chief justice
Americannoun
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Law. the presiding judge of a court having several members.
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Official Title Chief Justice of the United States. (initial capital letters) the presiding judge of the U.S. Supreme Court.
noun
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(in any of several Commonwealth countries) the judge presiding over a supreme court
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(in the US) the presiding judge of a court composed of a number of members
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of chief justice
First recorded in 1685–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"But as the chief justice has said, all members of the court can do their jobs as they believe legally right, adjudicating cases without fear or favor."
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
Kansas established its current system following a scandal in 1956 involving self-dealing by the governor, lieutenant governor, and chief justice of the state Supreme Court.
From Slate ● Jul. 8, 2026
Harvard law professor Richard Lazarus, who has been a friend of Roberts’ since their time in law school, said the chief justice “is clearly working very hard” to put together majorities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
The chief justice found it all too comfortable to ignore every objection.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
If I extended the radius another two dozen blocks or so, I’d take in numerous other Pulitzer recipients, as well as the chief justice of the U.S.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
