chief executive

American  

[cheef ig-zek-yuh-tiv] / ˈtʃif ɪgˈzɛk jə tɪv /

noun

chief executives plural

1. the president of the United States.

   the powers of the chief executive, as granted by the Constitution.

2. the governor of a U.S. state.

   the newly elected chief executive of Rhode Island.

3. the head of a government.

   a conference attended by all the European chief executives.

4. Also called chief executive officer.  the head of an organization, company, etc..

   the chief executive of a media corporation.

---

chief executive British  

noun

1. the person with overall responsibility for the efficient running of a company, organization, etc

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• chief executives
  plural

Etymology

Origin of chief executive

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chief executive

Paul Gigliotti, the chief executive of the California Mortgage Bankers Assn., said his organization is taking these concerns seriously, but provided few specifics on solutions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

Its chief executive, Fanta Aw, said the new policy "injects uncertainty, bureaucracy, and fear into a system that has long worked effectively. It is a solution in search of a problem."

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026

“Markets already move on Truth Social posts,” said Kevin McGurn, Trump Media’s interim chief executive.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 16, 2026

John Brase, who stepped in as chief executive last month, said the reduced dividend is part of his strategy to improve Conagra’s financial situation.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

In 1943—the same year that saw North Carolina’s chief executive assuring citizens that both races found segregation “sound and sensible”—a sixteen-year-old black Durham high school student challenged the ordinance.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson