What does chairwoman mean?
A chairwoman is a woman who presides over a meeting, committee, board of directors, or similar organized body, guiding discussion, maintaining order, and often acting as its official representative. The word is formed by combining "chair" — long used metonymically for the person occupying the seat of authority — with "woman," paralleling the older term "chairman." It is formal in register and appears most often in corporate, governmental, academic, and charitable contexts, as in "the chairwoman of the board" or "deputy chairwoman of the selection committee." Because the term explicitly signals gender, usage varies: many organizations now favor the neutral alternatives "chair" or "chairperson," while others retain "chairman" and "chairwoman" as paired titles. Knowing the word matters because it reflects both the structure of institutional life and ongoing debates about inclusive language. Related forms include "chairmanship," which describes the office itself regardless of the holder's gender.
nounA woman who chairs a meeting, committee, board, or other organized body; the female equivalent of a chairman.
- A woman who presides over a meeting, committee, board, or other organization.
"As chairwoman of the finance committee, she guided the board through a difficult budget season."
"She was elected chairwoman of the trustees at the age of thirty-five."
"The chairwoman called the meeting to order and introduced the guest speakers."
The plural follows the irregular pattern of "woman" → "women."
"Both chairwomen addressed the annual general meeting."
The word "chairwoman" only entered widespread English use in the 20th century, as women increasingly took seats at the head of the table — and the head of the board.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chairwoman
The word combines "chair," from Old French "chaiere" (ultimately Latin "cathedra," meaning seat), with "woman." While "chairman" dates to the mid-17th century, "chairwoman" arose much later, becoming common in the late 19th and especially the 20th century as women assumed leadership roles in committees and boards. Its formation parallels that of "chairperson," a mid-20th-century coinage intended to avoid marking gender.
How chairwoman is actually used
Formal register. "Chairwoman" explicitly marks gender, so some organizations prefer the neutral terms "chair" or "chairperson." It remains standard and respectful where the woman's role is being emphasized or when matching titles like "chairman" within an organization's own conventions.
Easily confused with chairwoman
"Chairwoman" specifically denotes a woman in the role, while "chairperson" is the gender-neutral term for anyone presiding over a body.