trustee
gb/tɹˌʌstˈi/ us/tɹˌʌstˈi/
C1
English
~ 8800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
entity
1
person legally holding property for others
A person or company that legally keeps and manages money or property for another person or group.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a trustee of [a trust/estate/fund]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "trustee" with "trustor" or "settlor". The trustee is the person who holds and manages the property, while the trustor/settlor is the person who creates the trust and puts property into it. Learners may also think a trustee always owns the property personally; in fact, they control it in a legal role and must use it for others’ benefit.
Synonyms
fiduciary (A broader legal term for someone in a position of trust, not only for managing property but also other duties.)
|
trust manager (Informal term that focuses on the management role, without the strong legal flavor of "trustee".)
Antonyms
beneficiary (The person who receives the benefit of the trust, which is the opposite role to the trustee who manages it.)
Collocations
act as trustee
|appointed as trustee
|trustee of the trust
|trustee of the estate
|corporate trustee
|professional trustee
Themes
law
|business
|money
|finance
Examples
- Under the will, his sister will serve as trustee of the family trust.
- The charity appointed a bank as corporate trustee to manage its endowment fund.
- As trustee of the estate, she must invest the assets carefully and report to the beneficiaries.
- He agreed to act as trustee for his niece’s inheritance until she turns twenty‑five.
Learner examples
- My uncle is the trustee of the family trust.
- The bank is a trustee for many small trusts.
- A trustee must look after the money for the children.
- She became a trustee of the estate after her father died.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
2
member of an organization's governing board
A person who is on the main board that controls and guides an organization like a university or charity.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a trustee of [an organization]
Common mistake:
Learners may think a trustee of an organization is the same as a normal worker or manager. In fact, trustees are usually unpaid, non‑executive people at the top level who supervise the organization rather than run daily operations.
Synonyms
board member (A general term for someone on a governing board, without the specific legal responsibilities implied by "trustee" in non‑profit contexts.)
|
governor (Common in British English for people on the governing body of schools or some institutions; similar oversight role but different traditional label.)
Antonyms
employee (Employees work for the organization and are managed by its leadership, whereas trustees are non‑executive overseers at the top level.)
Collocations
board of trustees
|university trustee
|charity trustee
|serve as a trustee
|elected trustee
|trustee meeting
Themes
business
|education
|government
Examples
- She was recently elected as a trustee of the university.
- The board of trustees approved the new five‑year strategic plan.
- As a museum trustee, he helps set the institution’s long‑term priorities.
- Local residents can apply to become trustees of the community trust that runs the library.
Learner examples
- Her father is a trustee of the hospital.
- The board of trustees met last night.
- He wants to serve as a trustee for the school.
- The trustees choose the new director of the charity.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
3
official managing a bankruptcy estate
A person chosen by a court to take control of a bankrupt person’s or company’s money and property and pay the people who are owed money.
Usage pattern:
[a court] appoints a trustee in bankruptcy for [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse the bankruptcy trustee with the debtor’s own lawyer or manager. The trustee is an independent officer of the court, not a personal representative of the debtor.
Synonyms
insolvency practitioner (Mainly British; a licensed professional who handles bankruptcies and similar procedures, not always called a "trustee" in every system.)
Antonyms
debtor (In bankruptcy, the debtor is the person or company that owes money, while the trustee is the official who controls the debtor’s assets in the process.)
Collocations
bankruptcy trustee
|trustee in bankruptcy
|court‑appointed trustee
|Chapter 7 trustee
|trustee’s report
|trustee’s fees
Themes
law
|business
|money
|finance
Examples
- The court appointed a trustee in bankruptcy to liquidate the company’s remaining assets.
- Creditors must file their claims with the bankruptcy trustee by the stated deadline.
- The trustee’s report concluded that there were insufficient funds to pay all unsecured creditors.
- After she filed for bankruptcy, a trustee took control of her non‑exempt property.
Learner examples
- The judge chose a trustee in bankruptcy for the company.
- The bankruptcy trustee will sell the company’s cars and machines.
- Creditors must send papers to the trustee.
- The trustee in bankruptcy pays the money to the people the company owes.
Grammar
Dictionary form
trustee
IPA
GB/tɹˌʌstˈi/
US/tɹˌʌstˈi/
Syllables & stress
trust - ee (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ee)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: trustee
- Plural: trustees
Word family
Forms
trustees
noun
Core family
trust
noun A2
trustworthy
adjective B2
Related words
entrust
verb B2
trustworthiness
noun
Negative and opposite forms
distrust
verb B2
untrustworthy
adjective
Advanced or less common
trusteeship
noun
Expressions
act as trustee
1/ˈækt ˈæz tɹˌʌstˈi/
fixed phrase
formal
perform the role of trustee
To do the job of a trustee, managing money or property for another person or group.
Examples
- The bank will act as trustee for the pension fund.
- She agreed to act as trustee for her nephew’s inheritance until he becomes an adult.
appointed as trustee
1/əpˈɔɪntɪd ˈæz tɹˌʌstˈi/
fixed phrase
formal
officially chosen to be trustee
Officially chosen to do the job of a trustee.
Examples
- He was appointed as trustee under his father’s will.
- The bank has been appointed as trustee of the new investment fund.
board of trustees
1/bˈɔɹd əv tɹˌʌstˈiz/
fixed phrase
formal
governing group of trustees
The group of people (trustees) who together control and guide an organization such as a university, charity, or pension fund.
Examples
- The board of trustees voted to increase funding for student scholarships.
- She presented the annual report to the board of trustees at their spring meeting.
corporate trustee
1/kˈɔɹpɚɪt tɹˌʌstˈi/
fixed phrase
technical
company or bank acting as trustee
A company, usually a bank or trust company, that does the job of a trustee instead of a private person.
Examples
- The will names a corporate trustee to manage the family trust.
- Using a corporate trustee can provide professional management of the fund.
serve as a trustee
1/sˈɚv ˈæz ə tɹˌʌstˈi/
fixed phrase
formal
hold a position as trustee
To have the job or role of a trustee, often on a board that controls an organization.
Examples
- She currently serves as a trustee of the national museum.
- Many alumni volunteer to serve as trustees of the university foundation.
sole trustee
1/sˈoʊl tɹˌʌstˈi/
fixed phrase
formal
only person acting as trustee
The only person or organization that is acting as trustee, with no other trustees.
Examples
- Under the deed, she is the sole trustee of the trust.
- The charity named the bank as sole trustee of its endowment.
trustee for the benefit of
1/tɹˌʌstˈi fɚ ðə bˈɛnəfɪt əv/
fixed phrase
technical
trustee holding property for someone
A trustee who keeps and manages property to help or benefit a named person or group.
Examples
- She was appointed trustee for the benefit of her grandchildren.
- The fund will be held by the bank as trustee for the benefit of the employees.
trustee in bankruptcy
1/tɹˌʌstˈi ˈɪn bˈæŋkɹəpsi/
fixed phrase
technical
trustee handling a bankruptcy case
A trustee chosen by a court to manage and sell the property of a bankrupt person or company and pay the creditors.
Examples
- The trustee in bankruptcy has asked the court for permission to sell the factory.
- Creditors can contact the trustee in bankruptcy for information about the case.
trustee of the estate
1/tɹˌʌstˈi əv ðə ɪstˈeɪt/
fixed phrase
formal
trustee managing a deceased person’s estate
A trustee who controls and manages all the money and property of a dead person’s estate.
Examples
- As trustee of the estate, she must pay all taxes before distributing assets.
- The trustee of the estate filed an inventory of the property with the court.