chief

[cheef]

noun

1. the head or leader of an organized body of people; the person highest in authority.

   the chief of police.

2. the head or ruler of a tribe or clan.

   an Indian chief.

3. U.S. Army.,  Chief, a title of some advisers to the Chief of Staff, who do not, in most instances, command the troop units of their arms or services.

   Chief of Engineers;

   Chief Signal Officer.

4. Informal: Sometimes Offensive.,  boss or leader.

   We'll have to talk to the chief about this.

5. Heraldry.

   1. the upper area of an escutcheon.

   2. an ordinary occupying this area.

adjective

1. highest in rank or authority.

   the chief priest;

   the chief administrator.

   Antonyms: subordinate

2. most important; principal.

   his chief merit;

   the chief difficulty.

   Synonyms: paramount, prime, leading, foremost, cardinal

adverb

1. Archaic.,  chiefly; principally.

chief

/ tʃiːf /

noun

1. the head, leader, or most important individual in a group or body of people

2. another word for chieftain

3. heraldry the upper third of a shield

4. primarily; especially

adjective

1. (prenominal)

   1. most important; principal

   2. highest in rank or authority

adverb

1. archaic,  principally

Sensitive Note

See powwow.

Other Word Forms

• chiefless adjective
• chiefship noun
• subchief noun
• underchief noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chief¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French chief, chef, Old French chef, from unattested Vulgar Latin capum, re-formation of Latin caput head

Word History and Origins

Origin of chief¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin caput head

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in chief,

   1. in the chief position; highest in rank (used in combination).

      editor in chief; commander in chief.

   2. Heraldry. in the upper part of an escutcheon.

Synonym Study

See capital ¹.

Example Sentences

Over the last two weeks the CDC has lost its chief medical officer, its director of immunisation and its director of emerging diseases, amongst others.

From BBC

“Wildfire is no longer a problem that stops at our borders and state lines,” said Joe Tyler, chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

The crew chief, Adrian Johnson, took the bat and called a review to verify the legality of the discoloration on barrel.

From Los Angeles Times

Joseph Schnitt, acting deputy chief at the DOJ’s Office of Enforcement Operations, made a series of claims about the case while on a Hinge date he believed to be real.

From Salon

"The initial reaction suggests markets are focused on Fed rate cuts rather than concerns about a cooling economy," said Ellen Zentner, chief economic Strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.

From BBC

Related Words

• captain 
• commander 
• director 
• head 
• leader 
• manager 
• ruler 
• superintendent 
• supervisor