chiefdom

American  

[cheef-duhm] / ˈtʃif dəm /

noun

1. the rank or office of a chief.

2. the territory or people over which a chief rules.

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Etymology

Origin of chiefdom

First recorded in 1570–80; chief + -dom

Example Sentences

As Baumgartel explained, "We believe these people were egalitarian hunter-gatherers, not subjects to some powerful chiefdom."

From Science Daily

Archaeologists believe Tequesta, which straddled both banks of the Miami River, became the capital of a chiefdom that stretched across southeast Florida from roughly 500 B.C.E. to the 1500s C.E.

From Science Magazine

Under the Piscataway chiefdom, other tribes — including the Yaocomico, Mattawoman, Pamunkey, Mattaponi and Nanjemoy — were interconnected with their own systems of justice, governing and defending themselves.

From Washington Post

Four people have been brought to the hospital, according to Pilo Mulindo, the head of the chiefdom of Bahema N’adhere.

From Washington Times

Pascal Saambili, head of the Watalinga chiefdom, said the community woke up to the sound of heavy bombardment which continued during the morning.

From Reuters