The word rector ("ruler," from the Latin regere and Rector meaning "Teacher" In Latin) has a number of different meanings, but all of them indicate an academic, religious or political administrator.

The word "rector" also appears in many modern languages, such as Albanian,Greek, Dutch, Spanish, Catalan and Romanian. In Bulgarian, Czech, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Serbian, Danish, German, Hungarian, Hebrew, Icelandic, Macedonian, Norwegian, Estonian, Swedish, Indonesian, Tagalog and Turkish, the homophonous spelling is Rektor or Rektör. Other languages use derivative forms, e.g. Rettore in Italian, Reitor in Portuguese, Rettur in Maltese, and Rehtori in Finnish.

The term and office of a rector are called a rectorate.

"Rector" is also a surname in English-speaking countries.As well as Greek.

Academic rectors

The rector is the highest academic official of many universities and certain other institutions of higher, sometimes even secondary, education.

The title is used widely in universities across Europe, including Albania, the Benelux, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine. It is also very common in Latin American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela, and also in Philippines, Indonesia and Israel. At some universities it is phrased in a loftier manner, as Rector Magnificus or Lord Rector.

A notable exception to this terminology was England, where universities were traditionally headed by a "Chancellor", and this designation followed in the Commonwealth, USA and other countries under Anglo-Saxon influence. Scotland follows suit in this practice, with the ancient universities being headed by a Chancellor, with the Lord Rector as an elected representative of students heading the university court.

Academic rectors in Europe

As in many European institutions, the head of German universities is called president, rector magnificus (men) or rectrix magnifica (women), as in some Belgian universities (notably the oldest and largest, KULeuven). In Dutch universities the rector magnificus is the most publicly prominent member of the board, responsible for the scientific agenda of the university. The rector is however not the chair of the board. The chair has, in practice, the most influence over the ruling of the University.

In some countries, including Germany, the position of head teacher in a secondary school is also designated as Rector, however, the position of head teacher in a German Gymnasium school is called Studiendirektor or Oberstudiendirektor. In the Netherlands, Rector and Conrector (assistant head) is used commonly for high school director. The same goes for some Maltese secondary schools.