chief justice

American  

[cheef juhs-tis] / ˈtʃif ˈdʒʌs tɪs /

noun

1. Law. the presiding judge of a court having several members.

2. Official Title Chief Justice of the United States.  (initial capital letters) the presiding judge of the U.S. Supreme Court.

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chief justice British  

noun

1. (in any of several Commonwealth countries) the judge presiding over a supreme court

2. (in the US) the presiding judge of a court composed of a number of members

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Other Word Forms

• chief justiceship
  noun

Etymology

Origin of chief justice

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chief justice

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

"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

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

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