chairmans

Chairman is a title used for the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, board, or committee. The person holding this position is responsible for running meetings, setting agendas, and representing the body in official functions. In many organizations, the role is now commonly referred to as chair, chairperson, or simply chair, reflecting a shift toward gender-neutral language.

Plural forms: The traditional plural is chairmen. Some organizations now prefer chairpersons or chairs to emphasize inclusivity. The form "chairmans" without an apostrophe is usually a misspelling or mispluralization and is not standard in English. Possessive forms follow standard rules: the singular possessive is chairman's; the plural possessive is chairmen's or chairpersons'.

Etymology and history: The term derives from chair, a symbol of the meeting’s authority, with the suffix -man from historical usage. The move toward gender-neutral terminology grew from the late 20th century onward, with many organizations adopting chairperson or chair as preferred terms.

Usage notes: In formal governance documents, choose the form preferred by the organization; in many public institutions, chairperson or chair is common. In legal or historic texts, chairman may still appear, particularly in older material. When referring to a specific person, use the correct possessive form: the chairman's plan, the chairmen's proposals, etc.

See also: chair, chairperson, governance, board of directors.