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.
McNamara said the EU had met with the opposition, government and even the chief justice to stress that any challenges to the vote outcome should be handled "peacefully".
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
As president a decade later, Reagan had appointed Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Antonin Scalia to the Supreme Court and elevated William Rehnquist to be the chief justice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
Although the chief justice later withdrew the comment, Dipke embraced the label, turning the cockroach into the movement's symbol.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Barbara, the chief justice and Justice Barrett joined the liberal bloc in holding that the 14th Amendment confers citizenship to U.S.-born children whose parents are in the country unlawfully or temporarily.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
The chief justice of the Supreme Court stepped forward to administer the oath of office.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
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.
