boss

boss boss [bɒs ǁ bɒːs] noun [countable] informal

1. the person who employs you or who is in charge of you at work:

• I'll have to ask my boss for a day off.

2. a manager with an important position in an organization:

• What they need to do is lobby strongly for more women bosses.

• Prison bosses launched an investigation into major security lapses.

word focus - boss

Boss is an informal word for a manager (= someone whose job is to be in charge of all or part of a company or a particular activity ) . A supervisor is someone who is in charge of a group of workers or a particular area of work, especially workers in low-ranking jobs. Aforeman/​forewoman is a worker who is in charge of a group of workers in a factory or on a building site. The Chief Executive Officer/​CEO (alsoManaging Director/​MD ) is the most senior manager in a company, and has the most authority. The job of Chief Executive Officer can also be combined with the job of president /​chairman of the board , whose role involves leading the company and making the final decisions on its business policy. The senior management are the most important group of managers in a company. Below them are the middle management and then the junior management.

3. be your own boss to work for yourself rather than being employed by someone else:

• He's looking forward to the day when he will be his own boss.

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boss UK US /bɒs/ noun [C] MANAGEMENT, HR, WORKPLACE

► a person who is senior to you at work, especially the person who is your manager: »

Getting on badly with the boss topped the list of reasons given by workers for leaving their job.

»

my new/old/former boss

► INFORMAL the person in charge of a company: »

Now that the company finally has a new boss, investors will be demanding to see a new strategy.

»

company/union/bank bosses

● be your own boss — Cf. be your own boss