Dictionary
1chief
adjective \ˈchēf\
: highest in rank or authority
: most important
Full Definition of CHIEF
1
: accorded highest rank or office <chief librarian>
2
: of greatest importance or influence <the chief reasons>
See chief defined for English-language learners
See chief defined for kids
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First Known Use of CHIEF
14th century
Related to CHIEF
- Synonyms
- arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, foremost, dominant, first, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme
2chief
adverb
3chief
noun
: the person who is the leader of a group of people, of an organization, etc.
Full Definition of CHIEF
1
: the upper part of a heraldic field
2
: the head of a body of persons or an organization : leader <chief of police>
3
: the principal or most valuable part <would never rest till she had read the chief of the letter to him — Jane Austen>
— chief·dom \-dəm\ noun
— chief·ship \-ˌship\ noun
— in chief
: in the chief position or place —often used in titles <commander in chief>
See chief defined for English-language learners
Origin of CHIEF
Middle English, from Anglo-French chief, chef head, chief, from Latin caput head — more at head
First Known Use: 15th century
CHIEF Defined for Kids
1chief
noun \ˈchēf\
Definition of CHIEF for Kids
: the head of a group : leader <the chief of police>
— in chief
: in the highest ranking position or place <editor in chief>
2chief
adjective
Definition of CHIEF for Kids
1
: highest in rank or authority <chief executive>
2
: most important : main <a chief reason>
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