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
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
Jane AustenSynonyms
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
Monica Ainley, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2024
Probably Marathon becoming the chief priority and Destiny getting even less investment unless there’s some giant hiring spree to bolster Bungie, which seems unlikely.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
The electric vehicle maker still is shooting for a launch of its cheaper vehicle in the first half of next year and other models later in the year, the bank said after the meeting with investor relations chief Travis Axelrod.
—Rachael Levy, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chief 
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Adjective
So, with all respect to Angele, Mia (aged three and a half) was my chief influence.
—Monica Ainley, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2024
Probably Marathon becoming the chief priority and Destiny getting even less investment unless there’s some giant hiring spree to bolster Bungie, which seems unlikely.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
Later on Wednesday, National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji Ho and Kim Bong-sik, chief of Seoul's metropolitan police agency, were detained in connection with the martial law case, police confirmed.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
The electric vehicle maker still is shooting for a launch of its cheaper vehicle in the first half of next year and other models later in the year, the bank said after the meeting with investor relations chief Travis Axelrod.
—Rachael Levy, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chief
Dictionary Entries Near chief
Cite this Entry
“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chief. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chief
2 of 2 noun
: the head of a group : leader
chief of police
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