proviseur

headmaster, principal (of a lycée)

noun proh-vee-ZUR Rare

Origin: Latin 'provisor' (one who provides/foresees)

Usage Note

Proviseur is the specific title for the head of a French lycée (upper secondary school, ages 15–18). For a collège (middle school) the equivalent title is principal. The feminine form is proviseure, a spelling now widely used. The role includes both administrative and disciplinary authority.

Examples

"Le proviseur a convoqué les parents d'élèves ce matin."

Natural Translation

The headmaster called in the parents this morning.

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