chieftain

noun

chief·​tain ˈchēf-tən How to pronounce chieftain (audio)
: a chief especially of a band, tribe, or clan
chieftainship noun

Examples of chieftain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For decades, the Orange County branch of the Mexican Mafia was led by Peter Ojeda, a longtime Santa Ana gang chieftain who maintained control over the local streets and jails even after a federal racketeering conviction in 2006 left him in a prison cell three time zones away. Sean Emery, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026 Hollywood chieftains of yesteryear were never an admirable crew. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 24 Mar. 2026 Khanzada spent the next decade with the Uzbeks, during which she was divorced by the chieftain and married to another man. Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Mar. 2026 Across four continents, his visionary quests as an entrepreneur, explorer, chieftain, and adventurer were all united by his lack of success. Literary Hub, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chieftain

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chieftaine, from Anglo-French chevetain, from Late Latin capitaneus chief — more at captain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chieftain was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chieftain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chieftain. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

chieftain

noun
chief·​tain ˈchēf-tən How to pronounce chieftain (audio)
: a chief especially of a band, tribe, or clan
chieftaincy
-sē
noun
chieftainship noun

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