chief 1 of 2

adjective

ˈchēf How to pronounce chief (audio)
Definition of chiefnext
1
as in main
coming before all others in importance our chief priority this year will be cutting the budget

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2
as in presiding
highest in rank or authority the chief administrator will be retiring soon

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chief

2 of 2

noun

1
as in body
the main or greater part of something as distinguished from its subordinate parts the chief of the estate was left to the eldest son

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2
as in leader
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do our chief is out on a business trip right now

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of chief
Adjective
Goodman, who is based at company headquarters in New York City, joins an executive leadership team that includes Hikade, Irina Topuria, president, and Lisa Kempa, chief financial officer. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 8 July 2026 Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, shared research that puts numbers around a trend retailers have been experiencing for years. — Richard Kestenbaum, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Noun
With more than 32 years of law enforcement experience, O’Grodnick will officially become the city’s 13th police chief on July 16, the city said in a statement. — Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 The leader is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and has authority over the national police and morality police. — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for chief
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chief
  1. main
  2. foremost
  3. body
  4. leader
  5. primary
  6. commanding
  7. core
  8. boss
Adjective
  • Of the 33 schools awarded grants, 19 schools opted for main entrance improvements while 14 chose to modernize their check-in and visitor badging systems.
    — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • India’s main stock index last month outperformed other emerging markets by the most since November, and foreign outflows hit a four-month low.
    — J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.
    — Krutarth Shah, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • Some of the world’s foremost experts in TND and vaccine evaluation are at the CDC.
    — Ben Lopman, STAT, 2 July 2026
Definition of foremost
Noun
  • Crews from multiple local and state agencies began an extensive search, and his body was recovered early Monday, family members confirmed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
  • His body was found by a National Park Service agent face-down in the water off the shoreline Monday morning.
    — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of body
Noun
  • The Burbank airport’s site in the San Fernando Valley, however, has often put its leaders at odds with residents of surrounding suburban neighborhoods.
    — Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • On Monday night, a group of residents and community leaders, including City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, met with Lineage officials to discuss their concerns stemming from the fire.
    — City News Service, Daily News, 8 July 2026
Definition of leader
Adjective
  • The former second-round pick is suddenly one of the Lakers’ primary summer league players and hopes to use the experience as an important stepping stone, building up his game while also establishing a leadership voice.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Both the primary and extension drive use the standard 1/4-inch hex specification, which, according to the creators, will cover over 95% of random everyday tasks – from bicycle maintenance to small home repairs and furniture assembly.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • Edwards, who had been the commanding officer of HSC-5 since July 2025, was posthumously promoted to captain, the Navy said in a statement.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026
  • And beyond all the light and magic of their goals, this was just a very commanding team performance.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of commanding
Noun
  • The core party at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will feature performances by acts including the Smashing Pumpkins, Maren Morris and Anthony Ramos, according to the America 250 website.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • The most severe risk is heat stroke, which occurs when the body's cooling mechanism fails entirely, potentially driving core body temperatures to 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within minutes.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • Like Sir Richard Branson himself, Virgin lets the hair grow long and undoes a few buttons while still making savvy business decisions, like a boss.
    — JP Brammer, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
  • My last bosses had created a toxic work environment in which people hesitated to speak up, question authority, or make mistakes.
    — Leslie Friday, CNBC, 10 July 2026
Definition of boss

Phrases Containing chief

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chiding
chief
chief justice
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Cite this Entry

“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chief. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chief

Nglish: Translation of chief for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chief

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