chief executive

noun

: a principal executive: such as

a

: the president of a republic

b

: the governor of a state

c

: ceo

Examples of chief executive in a Sentence

The President is the chief executive of the U.S.

Recent Examples on the Web

At the time of the sale to SNR in 2024, Grieco became the company’s chief executive officer, and Herning exited the business. — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026

His election as chief executive in 2008 and 2012 greatly furthered rapprochement with Beijing, though negotiations on representative offices were unsuccessful. — Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

That drew pushback from commission member Lisa Hammersley, chief executive of the School and State Finance Project and one of Connecticut’s leading voices on education. — Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026

York is an American businessman who is the principal owner and chief executive of the San Francisco 49ers. — Beren Cross, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1793, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chief executive

• consecutive

Kids Definition

chief executive

noun

: a principal executive: as

a

: the president of a republic

b

: the governor of a state

c

: ceo