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View synonyms for

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. Chief, U.S. Army. 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:

  2. most important; principal:

    his chief merit;

    the chief difficulty.

    Synonyms: , , , ,

adverb

  1. Archaic. chiefly; principally.

chief

/ ʃː /

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. in chief
    primarily; especially
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. prenominal
    1. most important; principal
    2. highest in rank or authority
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. archaic.
    principally
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Sensitive Note

See powwow.
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Other Word Forms

  • 󾱱· adjective
  • 󾱱·󾱱 noun
  • ܲ·󾱱 noun
  • ܲ··󾱱 noun
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of chief1

C13: from Old French, from Latin caput head
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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.
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Police chief Kitrat Phanphet, who visited the scene alongside other officials, said initial investigations showed the plane was heading towards houses but its pilots managed to manoeuvre it towards the sea, avoiding any further fatalities.

From

Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID Company, said the £2 levy would help Liverpool attract bigger events which, in turn, would bring more visitors and money to the city.

From

“ law lets the Trump administration store Venezuelans in Salvadoran prisons?” asked Wittes, who is editor in chief of the Lawfare site.

From

The chief executive office said in a statement that the county is trying to balance the need to pay employees fairly with keeping the county solvent.

From

But analysts say Washington's inability to secure the supply of rare earths has become one of the Trump administration's chief anxieties, especially as diplomatic tensions with Beijing have deepened.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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chidechief constable