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Chieftain vs Chief - What's the difference?

chieftain | chief | Synonyms |

Chief is a related term of chieftain.

Chief is a synonym of chieftain.



As nouns the difference between chieftain and chief

is that chieftain is a leader of a clan or tribe while chief is (leader of group etc)A leader or head of a group of people, organisation, etc.

As an adjective chief is

primary; principal.

chieftain

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A leader of a clan or tribe.
  • A leader of a group, e.g. a robbers' chieftain.

    • Synonyms

    * (A very powerful person) chief, big gun, big shot, big wheel, bigwig, boss, employer, foreman, head, heid bummer, leader, mandarin, manager, mover and shaker, top banana, top dog, tycoon

    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

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    Anagrams

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