trustee

trustee — noun

1. a person or organization that is legally appointed to look after assets, propert

1.名詞B2
釋義

a person or organization that is legally appointed to look after assets, property, or money on behalf of someone else, with a duty to act in that person's best interest

例句

The court appointed Leila as trustee of her niece's inheritance until she turns twenty-one.

appoint + as + trustee + of + [estate/inheritance]

As trustee, Rohan must submit a financial report to the beneficiaries every year.

as trustee, [subject] + must + verb

同義詞
  • fiduciary

    broader legal term for anyone in a position of trust who must act in another's best interest; all trustees are fiduciaries, but lawyers and financial advisors can also be fiduciaries

  • administrator

    generic term for someone who manages affairs, not necessarily tied to a trust structure

  • custodian

    focuses on safekeeping of assets, often less involved in investment decisions than a trustee

  • guardian

    legally responsible for a person's care (especially a child), not just their property

反義詞
  • beneficiary

    the person who receives income or benefits from the trust that a trustee manages

文法句型

trustee + of + [estate/fund]

trustee + for + [beneficiary]

用法筆記

Frequently used with 'of' to specify what is being managed (e.g. 'trustee of an estate', 'trustee of a fund'). The person who creates the trust is called the 'settlor', and the person who benefits is the 'beneficiary'.

常見錯誤

❌The bank named her as trustee of his will.
✅The bank named her as trustee of his estate.
💡A trustee manages the assets placed in a trust (estate, fund), not a legal document like a will.
❌She is the trustee of her younger brother.
✅She is the legal guardian of her younger brother.
💡A trustee manages property and money; a guardian looks after a person's well-being.

2. an individual serving on a governing board that oversees the finances and guides

2.名詞B2
釋義

an individual serving on a governing board that oversees the finances and guides the policies of a charity, school, hospital, or similar institution

例句

Diego was elected to the board of trustees of the local public library last spring.

elected to the board of trustees

The hospital trustees approved a new budget for upgrading the emergency department.

[institution] trustees + past tense action

同義詞
  • board member

    more general term that can apply to for-profit and non-profit organizations alike

  • director

    typically used for for-profit corporate boards; overlaps but less common for charities

  • governor

    UK term commonly used for school board members, similar role

文法句型

trustee + of + [institution]

board of trustees

用法筆記

Usually appears in the phrase 'board of trustees' or as part of an institution name (e.g. 'hospital trustee', 'museum trustee'). Unlike sense 1 (TRUST PROPERTY), this sense does not involve managing a specific trust fund for named beneficiaries — it focuses on the governance of the organization itself.

常見錯誤

❌She became a trustee of the tech startup and helped the company grow.
✅She became a director of the tech startup and helped the company grow.
💡For-profit companies have directors on a board of directors; trustees serve on non-profit or charitable boards.
❌The school trustees are responsible for teaching students.
✅The school trustees are responsible for the school's finances and policies.
💡Trustees govern at the policy level; teachers and principals handle daily education.

trustee — verb