Synonyms of chiefnext
1
: accorded highest rank or office
chief librarian
the company's chief executive
2
: of greatest importance or influence
the chief reasons
their chief accomplishment

Examples of chief in a Sentence

the chief engineer on the project Her job is their chief source of income. He has many concerns, chief among them his health.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Perhaps no one understands the allure of these properties better than Patricia Miller, the chief conservator at the Preservation Society of Newport County. Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026 If the reasoning in the memo struck immigration lawyers as dubious, this may have been because the agency’s office of chief counsel failed to properly vet it. Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 7 June 2026 One of the chief objectives the administration laid out going into the war was to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile stockpile. NBC news, 7 June 2026 After Mamdani captured the nomination last summer, Lander was reportedly angling to become first deputy mayor—in essence, chief lieutenant—in the new administration. Russell Berman, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for chief

Word History

Etymology
First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chief was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chief. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

chief

1 of 2 adjective
1
: highest in rank or authority
chief librarian
2
: most important : main
your chief claim to fame

chief

2 of 2 noun
: the head of a group : leader
chief of police
Etymology

Middle English chief "top part, head," from early French chief "head, chief," from Latin caput "head" — related to capital, captain

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