chief

1 of 3

adjective

ˈchēf 

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

2 of 3

adverb

archaic

: chiefly

chief

3 of 3

noun

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

chiefship

ˈchēf-ˌship 

noun

see also:

in chief

Synonyms of chief

Adjective

• main
• greatest
• primary
• highest
• foremost
• predominant
• dominant
• principal
• leading
• first
• big

Noun

• body
• core
• bulk
• weight
• majority
• main
• staple

Examples of chief in a Sentence

Adjective

the chief engineer on the project

Her job is their chief source of income.

He has many concerns, chief among them his health.

Noun

the chief of the estate was left to the eldest son

our chief is out on a business trip right now

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The following year, the City Council called for an independent commission to advise on overhauling the city’s criminal-justice system; it was chaired by Jonathan Lippman, a former chief judge of the New York Court of Appeals, and Richards became a member. —Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 11 May 2026

Librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte (Enyi Okoronkwo) is promoted to chief fellow party animal and tempter, showing up at Mozart’s door draped in women. —Robert Lloyd, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026

Noun

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has said the incident is under investigation. —Michael Loria, USA Today, 9 May 2026

The jobs of the chief and about 10 officers were terminated as of Wednesday morning. —Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French chief, chef head, chief, from Latin caput head — more at head

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chief

• air chief marshal
• chief constable
• chief executive
• chief executive officer
• chief justice
• chief master sergeant
• chief master sergeant of the air force
• chief of naval operations
• chief of police
• chief of staff
• chief of state
• chief petty officer
• chief warrant officer
• commander in chief
• crew chief
• editor in chief
• fire chief
• in chief
• master chief petty officer
• master chief petty officer of the coast guard
• master chief petty officer of the navy
• senior chief petty officer
• sub-chief

Rhymes for chief

• beef
• brief
• fief
• grief
• leaf
• lief
• reef
• reif
• seif
• sheaf
• thief
• belief

Kids Definition

chief

1 of 2 adjective

ˈchēf 

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

Noun

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