chief justice

noun

Synonyms of chief justicenext
: the presiding or principal judge of a court of justice

Examples of chief justice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Jonathan Dienst Jonathan Dienst is chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC-TV in New York. Tom Winter, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026 However, John Jay, a Protestant and first chief justice of the Supreme Court, once accused Catholics of spreading bigotry, persecution, murder and being a threat to America. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2026 In 2022, as chief justice, Robinson led a panel of justices that heard argument and issued a decision the first time the CCP litigation reached the high court. Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026 It should be noted that the members of the Guardian Council are appointed by the supreme leader and the chief justice, or head of the judiciary, who is also appointed by the supreme leader. Eric Lob, The Conversation, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chief justice

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chief justice was in 1534

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Cite this Entry

“Chief justice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chief%20justice. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

chief justice

noun
: the presiding or principal judge of a court of justice

Legal Definition

chief justice

noun
: a chief judge of a usually higher level court
specifically, often capitalized : the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
chief justiceship noun

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