Definition of chief
(Entry 1 of 3)
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
chief
adverbDefinition of chief (Entry 2 of 3)
archaic
: chiefly
chief
nounDefinition of chief (Entry 3 of 3)
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
in chief
: in the chief position or place
—often used in titles commander in chief
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Time Traveler for chief
The first known use of chief was in the 14th century
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