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

The trial also made national news after Ortega cross-examined Border Patrol sector chief Gregory Bovino about previous comments he had made describing undocumented immigrants as “scum, filth and trash.”

From Los Angeles Times

Before that he was chief executive of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Freeman, for 14 months.

From BBC

GMP chief constable Sir Stephen Watson said there were many worshippers inside the synagogue at the time of the incident.

From BBC

The inquiry heard she had then spoken to the chief executive of PHE, who was "aghast" that this might be the case and described a set of guidelines which provided a framework for schools reopening.

From BBC

Sir Mark became the force's chief after the murder of Sarah Everard, who was killed by a serving officer, at the time he vowed to remove wrongdoers from the Met.

From BBC

Related Words

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