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Doyen: meaning, definitions and examples

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doyen

 

[ ˈdɔɪ.ən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

highest ranking

A doyen is a person who is the most respected or prominent member of a particular field or profession. This term is often used to signify someone who has extensive experience and expertise, usually being the oldest or longest-serving member of that group. The doyen is someone whose opinions and insights are highly valued, often serving as a leader or mentor for others.

Synonyms

authority, leader, pioneer, veteran

Examples of usage

  • The doyen of the art community hosted an exhibition.
  • As the doyen of journalism, she was respected by her peers.
  • He is considered the doyen of modern poetry.

Translations

Translations of the word "doyen" in other languages:

🇵🇹 decano

🇮🇳 वरिष्ठ

🇩🇪 Doyen

🇮🇩 dekan

🇺🇦 декан

🇵🇱 dziekan

🇯🇵 長

🇫🇷 doyen

🇪🇸 decano

🇹🇷 dekan

🇰🇷 학장

🇸🇦 عميد

🇨🇿 děkan

🇸🇰 dékán

🇨🇳 院长

🇸🇮 dekan

🇮🇸 dekan

🇰🇿 декан

🇬🇪 დეკანი

🇦🇿 dekan

🇲🇽 decano

Etymology

The word 'doyen' is derived from the French term 'doyen', which means 'dean' and is a masculine form of the word. The French word itself comes from the Latin 'decanus', meaning 'leader of ten', derived from 'decem', meaning 'ten'. It historically referred to the head of a monastic community and later expanded to denote a senior member or elder in various fields. In English, the term was adopted in the early 19th century, retaining its connotations of seniority and respect. Over time, 'doyen' has come to be associated with expertise and authority in a specific area, often implying a degree of mentorship and guidance.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,724 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.