Definitions
01a leader
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the person who is in charge of a group, a tribe, or a department.
n. the head or leader of an organized body of people, such as a tribe, a police force, or a business unit.
日本語:長、チーフ※
Español:jefe
“The fire chief arrived at the scene to coordinate the rescue efforts.”
“The tribal chiefs gathered for a summit to discuss land rights and environmental protections for their ancestral territories.”
Antonyms
02informal address
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · British English
n. an informal way to address a man, sometimes used in a friendly or slightly rude way.
n. a colloquial form of address, often used ironically or to assert a casual dominance; it can be perceived as patronizing or offensive in certain cultural contexts.
日本語:大将※
“Excuse me, chief, do you have the time?”
“The shopkeeper's use of 'chief' felt slightly condescending to the younger customers, though he likely intended it as a friendly gesture.”
Teaching tip
In North America, using this as a casual address to an Indigenous person is considered highly offensive and should be avoided.
03most important
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. the most important or main part of something.
adj. principal or most important in rank, importance, or influence.
日本語:主※
Español:principal
“The chief reason for the delay was the heavy snow on the tracks.”
“The chief architect of the project argued that structural integrity must take precedence over aesthetic flourishes.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it modifies.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “chief” in context.
Verb
01. appoint a chief
“The board decided to appoint a new chief to oversee the restructuring process.”
verb + noun
02. report to the chief
“All department heads must report to the chief at the end of each week.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
03. acting chief
“She served as the acting chief while the search for a permanent replacement continued.”
adj + noun
04. former chief
“The former chief of police was invited to speak at the graduation ceremony.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. police chief
“The police chief held a press conference to discuss the recent drop in crime rates.”
noun + noun
06. village chief
“The village chief welcomed the visitors and offered them a traditional meal.”
noun + noun
07. chief of staff
“The president's chief of staff manages the daily schedule and coordinates with advisors.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. in chief
“He was promoted to editor in chief after working for the magazine for ten years.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Hamas calls on Board of Peace to ‘compel’ Israel to accept the Gaza peace plan after the Palestinian group, led by political chief al-Hayya, met with Kushner in Egypt.” “Earlier, Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya met with Egypt's intelligence chief Hassan Rashad in Cairo.” Etymology
From Middle English cheef, chef, from Old French chef, chief (“leader”), from Vulgar Latin capus, from Latin caput (“head”) (from which also captain, chieftain), from Proto-Italic kaput, from Proto-Indo-European káput. Doublet of cape (“point of land”), capo, caput, and chef through Latin (possibly also related to cape (“sleeveless garment”) and cap (“head covering”) from Latin cappa); doublet of head and Howth through Proto-Indo-European.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/chief
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0