chief justice

noun

: the presiding or principal judge of a court of justice

Examples of chief justice 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.
Jonathan Dienst Jonathan Dienst is chief justice contributor for NBC News and chief investigative reporter for WNBC-TV in New York. Jonathan Dienst, NBC News, 13 Dec. 2024 To indicate the caliber of the people that Duke brought in, his general counsel, his chief lawyer was a clerk for the chief justice of the Supreme Court. Harvard Business Review, 10 Dec. 2024 The chief justice left the issue open, however, by suggesting that hearing a similar case could clarify it. Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024 The amendment would also significantly affect the institution of the chief justice, who oversees the federal court system and acts as the most senior justice. Tobi Raji The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 8 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for chief justice 

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chief justice was in 1534

Dictionary Entries Near chief justice

Cite this Entry

“Chief justice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chief%20justice. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

chief justice

noun
: the presiding or principal judge of a court of justice

Legal Definition

chief justice

noun
: a chief judge of a usually higher level court
specifically, often capitalized : the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
chief justiceship noun

More from Merriam-Webster on chief justice

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!