chief
cheef
Chief (noun) means the leader or head of a group, organization, or tribe. Example: “The fire chief arrived first at the scene.”
noun
1
The leader or head of a group, organization, or tribe.
"The fire chief arrived first at the scene."
"She was named chief of the department after years of service."
"The chief of the village welcomed us with a warm smile."
adj
1
Most important; primary.
"Rising costs were the chief reason for the delay."
"Her chief worry was missing the last train home."
"Cheese is the chief ingredient in this simple sauce."
How to use chief
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe person in charge of a group, or, as an adjective, the main or most important thing.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
chief executive
police chief
chief reason
commander-in-chief
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Word forms
- Plural
- chiefs
- Third person singular
- chiefs
- Past tense
- chiefed
- Comparative
- chiefer, more chief
- Superlative
- chiefest, most chief
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The fire _____ arrived first at the scene.
Etymology
Ultimately from Latin caput ("head"), by way of Old French chief — making "chief" a distant cousin of "captain," "cap," and even "head" itself.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for chief
See all rhymes for chief →Frequently asked questions
What does “chief” mean?
The word “chief” means the leader or head of a group, organization, or tribe. In plain terms, the person in charge of a group, or, as an adjective, the main or most important thing.
How do you pronounce “chief”?
“Chief” is pronounced cheef (/t͡ʃiːf/ in IPA).
How do you use “chief” in a sentence?
Here is “chief” used in a sentence: “The fire chief arrived first at the scene.”
What is another word for “chief”?
Words with a similar meaning to “chief” include chieftain.
What part of speech is “chief”?
Depending on how it is used, “chief” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “chief” come from?
The word “chief” comes from Latin. Ultimately from Latin caput ("head"), by way of Old French chief — making "chief" a distant cousin of "captain," "cap," and even "head" itself.
Is “chief” a common word?
“Chief” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “chief” have?
“Chief” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the leader or head of a group, organization, or tribe.
What is the difference between a chief and a chef?
Though they sound similar, the words differ completely. A chief is the leader or head of a group, tribe, or organization. A chef is a professional cook who runs a kitchen. The overlap isn't accidental: 'chef' comes from the French 'chef de cuisine,' meaning 'head of the kitchen,' so both trace back to 'head.'
What is the difference between a chief and a boss?
A chief is the highest-ranking leader of a group, tribe, or department, and the word often appears in formal titles like Chief of Police. A boss is anyone who supervises you at work, whether your immediate manager or an owner. Every chief is a kind of boss, but not every boss is a chief.
What are examples of the word 'chief'?
'Chief' appears throughout job titles and ranks: Chief Executive Officer, Chief of Staff, fire chief, police chief, and Commander-in-Chief. It also names traditional leaders, as in a tribal chief. In each case it marks the person at the top, the one holding overall authority and responsibility.
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