What does cochairman mean?
A cochairman is a person who shares the role of chairman with one or more others, jointly leading a committee, board, organization, or event. The prefix 'co-' signals equal partnership: rather than a single figure presiding alone, two or more cochairmen split responsibilities such as setting agendas, running meetings, and representing the group publicly. The term appears most often in formal contexts — corporate governance, charitable foundations, political campaigns, and conference planning — where shared leadership is deliberate, whether to balance expertise, distribute workload, or present a united front. Because it derives from the gendered word 'chairman', usage has shifted in recent decades toward neutral alternatives like 'cochair' or 'cochairperson', though 'cochairman' remains widely understood and still common in official titles and press releases. Its plural is 'cochairmen', and the related feminine form 'cochairwoman' exists when the distinction matters. Knowing this word helps readers navigate organizational language precisely.
nounA person who serves as one of two or more joint chairmen of a committee, organization, or event.
- A joint chairman who shares leadership duties with another.
"As cochairman of the fundraising committee, she shared responsibility for the annual gala with two other volunteers."
"The board appointed her as cochairman of the audit committee alongside its longtime treasurer."
"Serving as event cochairman gave him a platform to champion the charity's mission."
The plural follows the standard irregular pattern of 'men'; when referring to a mixed-gender or unspecified group, some writers use 'cochairs' or 'cochairpersons' instead.
"Both cochairmen signed the final report before submitting it to the board."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cochairman
Cochairman combines the Latin-derived prefix 'co-', meaning 'together' or 'jointly' (from Latin 'cum'), with 'chairman', which arose in the 17th century from the sense of 'chair' as the seat occupied by the person presiding over an assembly — hence 'to chair' a meeting means to preside from that seat. The compound emerged as organizations began appointing joint leaders, becoming especially visible in 20th-century corporate and political usage. It shares its root family with 'chairmanship', 'chairperson', and 'vice-chairman'.
Related word forms
How cochairman is actually used
Because 'chairman' is gender-specific, many organizations now prefer neutral alternatives such as 'cochair' or 'cochairperson'; 'cochairwoman' is used when specifically denoting a woman in the role. The plural is 'cochairmen'. The word carries a formal register typical of boards, committees, and official events.
Easily confused with cochairman
Cochair is a shorter, increasingly common variant meaning the same thing, while cochairman is the traditional, gender-marked form.