Plural of chairperson; multiple individuals who preside over or lead meetings, organizations, or committees, without specifying gender.
From 'chair' + 'persons' (from Old French 'persone'). 'Chairperson' emerged in the 1970s as a gender-neutral alternative to 'chairman' and 'chairwoman,' reflecting evolving social values about inclusive language.
The rise of 'chairperson' in the 1970s was part of broader language reform movements—it shows how social change actually changes the words we use, and how quickly new terms can become standard (most people now just say 'chair').
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