noun
provost
PRO-vuhst
noun
1
A senior official who heads a university, college, or cathedral chapter.
"The provost announced new funding for student scholarships."
2
A senior military police officer, as in "provost marshal."
"The provost marshal was called in to investigate the incident on base."
3
Historically, a mayor or chief magistrate of a town, especially in Scotland.
"The provost of the burgh welcomed the visiting dignitaries."
How to Use Provost
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA senior official in charge — most commonly heard today as a top administrator at a university.
Common pairings
university provost
provost marshal
the provost of the college
Word Forms
provosted past tense, provosts plural, provosts singular
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Etymology
From Old English profost, from Late Latin propositus/praepositus, "one placed in command" — via Anglo-Norman and Old French provost.