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Glite Dictionary
presidential term

presidential term

3 3.5
The time a president is in office
  • noun
  • /ˌprɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl tɜrm/
translation icon : mandato presidencial
  • The Constitution dictates that the length of a presidential term is four years.
  • a four-year presidential term
  • the second presidential term
  • extend his presidential term

Examples

  • Regardless of his policies, the first year of any presidential term is largely out of his control.

    Blog text (18)

  • The coming presidential term was reduced from 8 years to only 4.

    Academic text (1992)

  • In the larger scheme of things, a presidential term is really not all that long.

    Blog text (34)

  • Their presidential terms will last from July 1, 2005 to 2007.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The presidential term of office was limited after Bourguiba had served as president for life.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Second, Lee's presidential term will end in May 1996.

    Academic text (1996)

  • More than 100 journalists were killed under Putin's leadership between 2000 and the end of his presidential term in 2008.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Governance indicators over time for the second presidential term of Yeltsin and the two presidential terms of Putin.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Protest events fell sharply in the final two years of Cardoso's second presidential term (2001-2002), before rebounding.

    Academic text (2016)

  • In FY1997, the last budget year of this four-year presidential term, the Administration's target for the ATP is $750 million.

    Academic text (1994)

Synonyms

administration
vspresidential term
∞ 4.0

The period when a president or leader is in office

measures only the length, not the policy actions during that time
presidency
vspresidential term
  • Formal
581 3.8

The time when a person serves as a country's president

refers instead only to the leader's length of time in that role
tenure
vspresidential term
161 5.6

The period someone holds a job or position

applies this idea specifically to the leader's time in office
incumbency
vspresidential term
8 7.4

A period when a person holds an office like mayor or senator

focuses on the same length but tied to the leader role
term of office
vspresidential term
4 3.7

A fixed time when a person holds an official job

is specific to the leader's time in power rather than any office
presidentship
vspresidential term
7.3

A time when someone is the head of a country or organization

focuses only on the simple measure of how long the leader serves

How Long

extended
11 4.0
tenure
161 5.6
presidential term
3 3.5
short-term
225 3.3

Surface Forms

presidential term singular
presidential terms plural

Morphology

presidential + term

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'presidential' (pertaining to a president) + 'term' (a set period), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it denotes the period a president holds office. This is a regular nominal composition found cross-linguistically and follows transparent English formation patterns, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Presidential term puts together presidential (about the president) and term (a set period of time, like a school term). So, it means the 'length of time' a president is 'in office'.