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moderator

moderator

104 3.9
A person who leads a discussion to keep it fair
  • noun
  • /ˈmɒdəˌreɪtər/
translation icon : moderador
  • Annette Gordon Reed will be the moderator for that panel.
  • role of a moderator
  • serve as a moderator
  • act as a moderator

But Math Overflow, the Math Overflow moderators have always said no.

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Examples

  • I'll be your moderator for tonight's debate.

  • So, the moderator will ask the questions.

  • What I look for is as the moderator asks a question.

  • There had been an election, and she had been elected moderator of the whole Circle!

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Among these faculty is one who has agreed to serve as moderator tonight.

    Academic text (2007)
  • First, the three vendors are instructed by the moderator to enter the market.

    Academic text (2000)
  • It's my pleasure to introduce tonight's moderator, Jay Newton Small.

  • I'm Phil Jamison, Professor of Journalism here at the university and I will also be your moderator for this evening.

  • Honest responses from participants are requested from the moderator, who immediately attempts to establish a nonthreatening atmosphere.

    Academic text (1992)
  • As the moderator of the panel discussion, she ensured that everyone had a chance to speak.

Synonyms

chair
vsmoderator
258 3.1

A person who leads a meeting or committee

is mainly concerned with managing discussions fairly and enforcing order
chairperson
vsmoderator
15 3.5

A person who leads a meeting, committee, or organization

focuses more on keeping debate fair and resolving disputes
presiding officer
vsmoderator
  • Formal
3 6.1

A person who leads a meeting and makes sure it runs correctly

focuses specifically on keeping discussions fair and orderly
presider
vsmoderator
1 7.3

A person who leads a meeting, ceremony, or event

is dedicated to guiding discussions and ensuring fair process

Compounds

6.7

A computer program that checks and removes posts that break the rules

How Strict

referee
96 2.7
arbiter
28 6.7
moderator
104 3.9
chair
258 3.1
facilitator
33 5.1

Surface Forms

moderator singular
moderators plural

Morphology

moderator = moderate (transparent) = moderate + or

The word 'moderator' is transparently derived from the verb 'moderate' with the agentive suffix '-or', indicating a person who moderates.

Etymology

Moderator comes from the old root moder- meaning 'to keep things in the right measure' or 'to control'. A moderator is like a person who keeps a meeting calm and fair and stops things from going too far, so the word now means someone who leads and keeps discussions orderly.