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

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Etymology

Origin of chief justice

First recorded in 1685–95

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chief justice

In fact, the so-called Roberts Court, named by tradition after the chief justice, is a misnomer.

From Salon ● Oct. 6, 2026

But whatever view the chief justice had about the prudence of Ohio’s pressing forward, he was steadfast in his belief that the court’s task was to decide the issues parties presented.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

The invitation to the chief justice is in keeping with tradition and for aspiring lawyers, the presence of the country's top judge at their convocation is usually seen as a matter of pride.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

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

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

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