What does anchorperson mean?
An anchorperson is the main presenter of a television or radio news program — the journalist who introduces reports, interviews guests, and guides viewers through a broadcast from the studio. The role carries connotations of authority, credibility, and poise, since the anchorperson is often the public face of an entire news organization. The term was coined as a gender-neutral alternative to 'anchorman', reflecting efforts in the late twentieth century to remove male-default language from professional titles; today, however, many speakers simply say 'anchor' or 'news anchor'. A skilled anchorperson combines journalistic judgment with a calm on-air presence, especially during live, unscripted moments such as breaking news. For learners of English, the word is useful chiefly in media and workplace contexts, where neutral job titles matter, and it pairs naturally with terms like broadcast, network, and evening news.
nounA person who presents and coordinates a news broadcast on television or radio, especially the main presenter of a news program.
- A man or woman who serves as the principal presenter of a television or radio news program.
"The veteran anchorperson signed off after three decades of delivering the evening news."
"After years as a field reporter, she was finally promoted to anchorperson of the nightly broadcast."
"Viewers trusted the anchorperson's calm delivery even during the most chaotic breaking-news coverage."
Both 'anchorpersons' and 'anchors' are used; 'anchors' is far more common in everyday speech.
"The panel featured anchorpersons from three competing networks."
Anchorperson is one of the rare words created almost entirely to fix a bias problem — it was coined so that 'anchorman' didn't have to be.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of anchorperson
Anchorperson is a modern English coinage, formed by blending the existing noun 'anchorman' — the long-established term for the chief news presenter — with the gender-neutral suffix '-person', which became widespread in the twentieth century as part of broader efforts to make occupational titles non-gendered. Its ultimate root is the nautical noun 'anchor', borrowed into Old English from Latin (ancora) and Greek (ankura); 'anchorman' itself originally referred to the last runner in a relay team before being extended figuratively to broadcasting. Cognates include 'anchorwoman', coined at the same time, and the older compounds built directly on 'anchor'.
How anchorperson is actually used
The word is deliberately gender-neutral, coined to replace 'anchorman' (male) and avoid the less common 'anchorwoman'. It is standard but somewhat formal; in everyday speech, many people simply say 'anchor' or 'news anchor', which are now the dominant terms. 'Anchorperson' appears frequently in journalism industry contexts and style-conscious writing.
Easily confused with anchorperson
Anchorman refers specifically to a male news presenter, while anchorperson is the gender-neutral term for anyone in that role.