WordValetrustee
a person who manages property for another's benefit
In more detail
1. (noun) a person or organization that is legally responsible for managing money or property that belongs to someone else or to a group
2. (noun) a member of a group that manages the business affairs of a school, college, hospital, or other institution
Examples
- 1. The bank acts as a trustee for the children's inheritance until they turn eighteen.
- 2. She was elected as a trustee of the university and helps make important decisions about its future.
How to use trustee
A trustee is someone legally entrusted with managing assets or an institution on behalf of others. The term is most common in legal and institutional contexts, emphasizing fiduciary responsibility and formal duty. It differs from similar terms in that it specifically denotes a legal obligation and formal role, whereas 'custodian' may be more general and 'guardian' often implies protection of a person rather than assets.
Common phrases
- board of trustees
- trustee of a trust
- serve as trustee
- corporate trustee
- institutional trustee
Synonyms
fiduciary · custodian · administrator · guardian · caretaker
Word family
trusteeship (noun) · trustee (verb - less common)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse trustee with beneficiary (the person who benefits from the trust) or assume a trustee must be an individual rather than a corporation or institution.
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