co-chairman

1 3.7

A person who shares the job of leading a group or committee

noun
/koʊˈtʃɛr.mən/

: co-presidente

During the meeting, the co-chairman emphasized the importance of collaboration among the committee members.

Examples

Kobayashi has suggested that Japan explore the possibility of playing a role as regional "co-chairman" with China.

Academic text (1991)
As co-chairman of the board, he shares responsibilities with the other leader to guide the organization.
The newly appointed co-chairman will work alongside his counterpart to implement the new initiatives.

Synonyms

cochair

vsco-chairman

1 3.9

A person who shares leading a committee with someone else

is a male word for the same shared leadership role

cochairman

vsco-chairman

1 3.7

A person who shares the job of leading a group with another person

is the hyphenated form of that identical leadership title

co-chair

vsco-chairman

3.5

A person who shares the job of leading a committee or meeting with another person

is the gendered term for the same shared leadership position

co-leader

vsco-chairman

3.7

Working together with another person to lead a group

focuses on the shared presiding position within groups and committees

cohead

vsco-chairman

5.6

A person who shares the leadership of a group or department

refers specifically to the shared presiding role within committees rather than other posts

Surface Forms

co-chairman singular

co-chairmen plural

Morphology

co-chairman = chairman (transparent) = co + chair + man

The productive prefix 'co-' meaning 'joint' combines with the familiar noun 'chairman' to mean someone who shares the role; this is directly derivable by learners.

Etymology

The word co-chairman is built from the prefix co- meaning 'together' and chairman, where chair is the 'seat of power' in a meeting. So a co-chairman is someone who shares the leader's seat and duties with another person.