Definition of chief
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
From the M-W Editors
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.
Origin and Etymology of chief
see 3chief
First Known Use: 14th century
14th Century
First Known Use of chief
14th century
chief
Definition of chief
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
Examples of chief in a Sentence
the chief of the estate was left to the eldest son
our chief is out on a business trip right now
Origin and Etymology of chief
Middle English, from Anglo-French chief, chef head, chief, from Latin caput head — more at head
First Known Use: 15th century
CHIEF Defined for English Language Learners
chief
playDefinition of chief for English Language Learners
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: highest in rank or authority
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: most important
chief
Definition of chief for English Language Learners
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: the person who is the leader of a group of people, of an organization, etc.
CHIEF Defined for Kids
Learn More about chief
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See words that rhyme with chief Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for chief Spanish Central: Translation of chief Nglish: Translation of chief for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of chief for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chief
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