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 WebLibor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2024
Despite a precipitous rise in cyberattacks against the health sector in recent years, a weeks-long disruption of this magnitude is beyond what most health systems are prepared for, said John Clark, an associate chief pharmacy officer at the University of Michigan health system.
—Kate Wells, NPR, 19 June 2024
Morrison was previously chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer and vice president of global talent management at Levi Strauss & Co.
—Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 June 2024
In 2021, she was promoted to global chief marketing officer, and also became head of new business ventures in 2023.
—Bysheryl Estrada, Fortune, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for chief 
Adjective
Research from across the country — summarized in a report by the city’s chief legislative analyst — shows that such an approach tends to favor employees in disciplinary matters.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2024
Despite a precipitous rise in cyberattacks against the health sector in recent years, a weeks-long disruption of this magnitude is beyond what most health systems are prepared for, said John Clark, an associate chief pharmacy officer at the University of Michigan health system.
—Kate Wells, NPR, 19 June 2024
Morrison was previously chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer and vice president of global talent management at Levi Strauss & Co.
—Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 June 2024
In 2021, she was promoted to global chief marketing officer, and also became head of new business ventures in 2023.
—Bysheryl Estrada, Fortune, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for chief
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chief.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near chief
Cite this Entry
“Chief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chief. Accessed 27 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chief
2 of 2 noun
: the head of a group : leader
chief of police
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