chief
UK: tʃiːf | US: tʃiːf
n. 1. A leader or ruler of a group or organization.
n. 2. The highest-ranking person in a hierarchy.
adj. 1. Most important or influential.
The word "chief" traces back to the Latin caput (head), which evolved into Old French chef (leader or head). It entered Middle English with the same spelling and meaning, retaining its core idea of prominence or authority. The semantic shift from "head" to "leader" reflects the metaphorical association of the head with command and primary importance.
The tribal chief addressed the community at the gathering.
She is the chief editor of the renowned magazine.
Safety is our chief concern during the project.
The fire chief coordinated the emergency response.
He served as chief of staff for the president.