# doyen

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈdɔɪ.ən/ · frequency rank #70,615

## Definitions
1. A commander in charge of ten men.
2. The senior, or eldest male member of a group.
3. A leading light, or exemplar of a particular practice or movement.

## Etymology
Borrowed from French doyen, from Late Latin decānus, from Latin decem. Compare the doublet dean.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/doyen