honcho: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, especially North American business or organizational slang.
Quick answer
What does “honcho” mean?
The person in charge.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The person in charge; the boss or leader.
Informally refers to the person who runs an organization, project, or situation, often implying direct authority and hands-on control. Can be used as a noun or a verb (to lead or be in charge of).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common and established in American English. In British English, it is understood but less frequent and can sound like an Americanism.
Connotations
US: Casual business/organizational slang. UK: May sound borrowed from US media or corporate jargon.
Frequency
Frequent in US business/informal contexts; low-to-medium in UK, primarily in international business or influenced by US culture.
Grammar
How to Use “honcho” in a Sentence
[Person/Group] is the honcho of [Organization/Project]to honcho [Project/Operation]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “honcho” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She was asked to honcho the new sustainability initiative.
- Who's honchoing the regional rollout?
American English
- He's honchoing the software development team.
- They need someone to honcho the merger details.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
- N/A
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- Not commonly used as an adjective.
- N/A
American English
- Not commonly used as an adjective.
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to refer informally to a department head or project lead.
Academic
Very rare; would be considered overly informal.
Everyday
Used in informal talk about work, projects, or organizations.
Technical
Not used in technical fields as a term of art; remains informal organizational slang.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “honcho”
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “honcho”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “honcho”
- Using it in formal writing (e.g., 'The honcho presented the annual report').
- Pronouncing it as /ˈhɒn.koʊ/ (it's with a 'ch' sound).
- Using it as a title (e.g., 'Honcho Smith').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is informal slang, primarily used in American business or organizational contexts.
Yes, especially in American English, meaning to lead or be in charge of a project or operation.
It comes from Japanese '班長 (hanchō)', meaning 'squad leader'. It entered English via US military personnel in post-WWII Japan.
They are close synonyms, but 'honcho' is more informal and often implies a specific, hands-on leadership role within a project or team, sometimes with a tougher connotation.
The person in charge.
Honcho: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒn.tʃəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑːn.tʃoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “head honcho”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'The HONest CHOsen one' – the honest person chosen to be the boss.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEADER IS A PILOT (from the original Japanese 'squadron leader').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'honcho' LEAST appropriate?