chief
the head or leader of an organized body of people; the person highest in authority: the chief of police.
the head or ruler of a tribe or clan: an Indian chief.
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.
Informal: Sometimes Offensive. boss or leader: We'll have to talk to the chief about this.
Heraldry.
the upper area of an escutcheon.
an ordinary occupying this area.
highest in rank or authority: the chief priest;the chief administrator.
most important; principal: his chief merit;the chief difficulty.
Archaic. chiefly; principally.
Idioms about chief
in chief,
in the chief position; highest in rank (used in combination): editor in chief; commander in chief.
Heraldry. in the upper part of an escutcheon.
Origin of chief
1synonym study For chief
usage note For chief
Other words for chief
Opposites for chief
Other words from chief
- chief·less, adjective
- chief·ship, noun
- sub·chief, noun
- un·der·chief, noun
Words that may be confused with chief
- chef, chief
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for chief
/ (tʃiːf) /
the head, leader, or most important individual in a group or body of people
another word for chieftain (def. 2)
heraldry the upper third of a shield
in chief primarily; especially
(prenominal)
most important; principal
highest in rank or authority
archaic principally
Origin of chief
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse