Definition of 'chief'
Word forms: plural chiefs
1. countable noun
The chief of an organization is the person who is in charge of it.
2. countable noun & title noun
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
The chief cause, part, or member of something is the most important one.
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Video: pronunciation of
chief
Word Frequency
chief in British English
adverb
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
C13: from Old French, from Latin caput head
Word Frequency
chief in American English
noun
1.
the head or leader of a group, organization, etc.; person of highest title or authority
3. Heraldry
the upper third of a shield
adjective
adverb
Idioms:
SYNONYMY NOTE: chief is applied to the person or thing first in rank, authority, importance, etc., and
usually connotes subordination of all others [his chief problem was getting a job]; principal is applied to the person who directs or controls others [a principal clerk] or to the thing or person having precedence over all others by reason of size, position,
importance, etc. [the principal products of Africa]; main, in strict usage, is applied to the thing, often part of a system or an extensive
whole, that is preeminent in size, power, importance, etc. [the main line of a railroad]; lead1 verb transitive stresses capacity for guiding, conducting, or drawing others [a leading light, question, etc.]; foremost suggests a being first by having moved ahead to that position [the foremost statesman of our time]; capital1 is applied to that which is ranked at the head of its kind or class because of its
importance or its special significance [the capital city] OPPOSITES: subordinate, subservient
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
chiefdom (ˈchiefdom)
noun
Word Frequency
chief in American English
(tʃif)
noun
1.
the head or leader of an organized body of people; the person highest in authority
the chief of police
3. (cap) 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
6. See in chief
adjective
7.
highest in rank or authority
the chief priest
the chief administrator
8.
most important; principal
his chief merit
the chief difficulty
adverb
9. archaic
chiefly; principally
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
chiefless adjective
chiefship
noun
Word origin
[1250–1300; ME ‹ AF chief, chef, OF chef ‹ VL *capum, re-formation of L caput head]Examples of 'chief' in a sentence
chief
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
Word lists with
chief
heraldry, Titles of rulersQuick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
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Score: 0 / 5
Which ruling title am I called?
a governor of a colony, country, or province who acts for and rules in the name of his or her sovereign or government
Which ruling title am I called?
the formal title of the Japanese emperor, esp when regarded as a divine religious leader
Which ruling title am I called?
the chief magistrate of the former Dutch republic or of any of its provinces (from about 1580 to 1802)
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Trends of
chief
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In other languages
chief
British English: chief
/tʃiːf/ ADJECTIVE
Chief is used in the job titles of the most senior worker or workers of a particular kind in an organization.
...the chief test pilot.
- American English: chief /tˈʃif/
- Arabic: رَئِيسيّ
- Brazilian Portuguese: chefe
- Chinese: 首要的
- Croatian: glavni
- Czech: hlavní
- Danish: ledende
- Dutch: voornaamst
- European Spanish: jefe
- Finnish: pää-
- French: principal plus important
- German: wichtigster
- Greek: κύριος
- Italian: capo
- Japanese: 主要な
- Korean: 제1의
- Norwegian: sjefs-
- Polish: główny naczelny
- European Portuguese: chefe
- Romanian: șef
- Russian: старший
- Latin American Spanish: en jefe
- Swedish: huvud-
- Thai: (ตำแหน่ง) ที่สำคัญที่สุด
- Turkish: baş
- Ukrainian: головний
- Vietnamese: trưởng
British English: chief
/tʃiːf/ NOUN
The chief of an organization or department is its leader or the person in charge of it.
...the police chief.
- American English: chief /tˈʃif/
- Arabic: رَئِيس
- Brazilian Portuguese: chefe
- Chinese: 首领
- Croatian: šef
- Czech: vedoucí
- Danish: chef
- Dutch: leider
- European Spanish: jefe
- Finnish: päällikkö
- French: chef patron
- German: Oberhaupt
- Greek: αρχηγός
- Italian: capo
- Japanese: ･･･長 統率
- Korean: 우두머리
- Norwegian: leder
- Polish: szef
- European Portuguese: chefe
- Romanian: șef
- Russian: руководитель
- Latin American Spanish: jefe
- Swedish: ledare
- Thai: หัวหน้า
- Turkish: şef
- Ukrainian: керівник
- Vietnamese: người đứng đầu
Nearby words of
chief
Related terms of
chief
Source
Definition of chief from theCollins English Dictionary
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arrive or reach?
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reach
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Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
arrive or reach?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
arrive
reach
I d at the hotel yesterday.
allow or let?
Which version is correct?
alternate or alternative?
Which version is correct?
ashamed or embarrassed?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
embarrassed
ashamed
He seemed by the question.
great or large?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
great
large
Many species are in danger.
Your score: