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.
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
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
-
Score: 0 / 5
Which heraldic term am I?
a winged monster with an eagle-like head and the body of a lion
Which heraldic term am I?
the outer edge of a shield, esp when decorated distinctively
Which heraldic term am I?
a pursuivant or herald
Which heraldic term am I?
an addition to the arms of a family to represent a younger branch
Which heraldic term am I?
a horizontal division of a shield, one quarter of the depth of the chief
Your score:
Trends of
chief
View usage for:
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
Browse alphabetically
chief
Source
Definition of chief from the Collins English Dictionary
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
comprehensible or comprehensive?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
comprehensible
comprehensive
We need to make our research readable and .
alternate or alternative?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
alternative
alternate
There is no to hard work.
ashamed or embarrassed?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
ashamed
embarrassed
I was of myself for getting so angry.
allow or let?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
allow
let
Will you me to go to the party?
afraid or frightened?
Which version is correct?
Your score:
Latest Word Submissions
New Conversations Day
The twelfth of July marks New Conversations Day. If you haven’t heard of it, don’t fret or feel afflicted by FOMO, for this is the first such day – ever.
Read more
World Refugee Day
Sunday 20th June 2021 marks World Refugee Day, an initiative by the UN which highlights the power of inclusion and standing together to build a stronger, safer world for us all.
Read more
World Music Day
‘If music be the food of love, play on’ must be the second best-known quote from the Bard. These words uttered – or crooned in some performances – by Duke Orsino, who is in love with love itself, constitute the very first line of Twelfth Night.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
team or teem?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
teem
team
By March the place is starting to with tourists.
came or come?
Which version is correct?
way or weigh?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
way
weigh
I can't think of a worse to spend my time.
die or dye?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
die
dye
My love for you will never .
pole or poll?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
poll
pole
A weekly has shown that the president's popularity is declining.
Your score: