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Chief vs Deputy - What's the difference?

chief | deputy |

As nouns the difference between chief and deputy

is that chief is (leader of group etc)A leader or head of a group of people, organisation, etc while deputy is one appointed as the substitute of another, and empowered to act for him, in his name or his behalf; a substitute in office; a lieutenant; a representative; a delegate; a vicegerent; as, the deputy of a prince, of a sheriff, of a township, etc.

As an adjective chief

is primary; principal.

chief

English

(wikipedia chief)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (senseid)A leader or head of a group of people, organisation, etc.
  • * 1994 , Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom , Abacus 2010, p. 4:
    • My father, Gadla Henry Mphakanyiswa, was a chief by both blood and custom.
  • (heraldiccharge) The top part of a shield or escutcheon.
  • * 1889 , Charles Norton Elvin, A Dictionary of Heraldry :
    • When the Chief' is Charged with any figure, in blazon it is said to be "''On a '''Chief ".
  • (senseid)A head officer in a department, organization etc.; a boss.
    • All firefighters report to the fire chief .
  • An informal address to an equal.
    • Hey, chief.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    (chief) * chief constable * chiefess * chief executive * chief executive officer/CEO * chief legal officer * chief mate * chief of staff * chief of state * chief petty officer * commander in chief * dexter chief * editor in chief * fire chief * in chief * police chief * war chief

    Related terms

    * captain * chef * chieftain

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Primary; principal.
    • Negligence was the chief cause of the disaster.

    See also

    * chef

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    deputy

    English

    Noun

    (deputies)
  • One appointed as the substitute of another, and empowered to act for him, in his name or his behalf; a substitute in office; a lieutenant; a representative; a delegate; a vicegerent; as, the deputy of a prince, of a sheriff, of a township, etc.
  • (in France): A member of the Chamber of Deputies, formerly called
  • (Ireland) a member of , or the title of a member of Dáil Éireann. (Normally capitalised in both cases)
    • Eamon Ryan is a Deputy in the Dáil.
    At today's meeting, Deputy Ryan will speak on local issues.

    Usage notes

    Deputy'' is used in combination with the names of various executive officers, to denote an assistant empowered to act in their name; as, ''deputy collector, deputy marshal, deputy sheriff.

    Synonyms

    * substitute * representative * legate * delegate * envoy * agent * See also

    Hyponyms

    * vice admiral * vice director * vicegerent * vice president

    See also

    * vice-

    External links

    * * *