Chief vs. Head: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 21, 2023
"Chief" primarily denotes the top leader or the main individual in a category, while "Head" refers to the foremost part or leader of a group.
Key Differences
The term Chief usually signifies the principal or most important person in an organization or category. In contrast, Head can denote both the foremost part of something and the leader of a group or division.
While Chief is generally reserved for titles signifying high levels of responsibility, like Chief Executive Officer, Head is versatile and can be used in various contexts such as the head of a department or the head of a river.
An organization might have many Heads for different departments, like the head of marketing or the head of finance, but it will typically have one Chief executive overseeing all operations.
In certain contexts, both Chief and Head can be used interchangeably, such as when referring to the leader of a group. For instance, the Chief of a tribe is its leader, much like the Head of a committee.
It's also worth noting that while Chief is more often associated with roles and titles, Head has broader usage, including referencing the top or front part of physical objects or entities.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
The principal or most important
Foremost part or leader
Part of Speech
Noun (can also be an adjective)
Noun (can also be a verb)
Usage Context
Leadership roles, titles
Leadership, top or front part of something
Grammatical Function
Describes primary importance or leadership
Describes foremost position or leadership
Associated Ideas
Authority, paramount
Top, leader, front
ADVERTISEMENT
Chief and Head Definitions
Chief
The top-ranking person in an organization.
The Chief of the police department addressed the press.
Head
The top or front part of something.
He scratched his Head in confusion.
Chief
The leader or head of a group, especially in native tribes.
The tribal Chief made the final decision.
Head
The person in charge of a group or organization.
She was appointed the Head of the department.
Chief
Predominant or principal.
The Chief ingredient in the dish is garlic.
Head
The source or origin of a river or stream.
We hiked to the Head of the river.
Chief
Foremost in rank or importance.
She was the Chief architect of the project.
Head
To move in a specific direction.
We decided to Head home after the movie.
Chief
The main or most important.
His Chief concern was the safety of his family.
Head
The uppermost or forwardmost part of the body of a vertebrate, containing the brain and the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and jaws.
Chief
One who is highest in rank or authority; a leader.
Head
The analogous part of an invertebrate organism.
Chief
A chief petty officer.
Head
The length or height of such a part
The horse lost by a head. She is two heads taller than he is.
Chief
(Nautical) The chief engineer of a ship.
Head
The seat of the faculty of reason; intelligence, intellect, or mind
I did the figuring in my head.
Chief
(Slang) A supervisor; a boss.
Head
Mental ability or aptitude
She has a good head for mathematics.
Chief
(Heraldry) The upper section of a shield.
Head
Freedom of choice or action
Give the child his head and see how well he solves the problems.
Chief
Highest in rank, authority, or office
The chief scientist in the lab.
Head
A habitual drug user. Often used in combination
A dopehead.
Chief
Most important or influential
The chief ingredients in the stew. See Usage Note at absolute.
Head
An enthusiast. Often used in combination
A chilihead.
Chief
A leader or head of a group of people, organisation, etc.
All firefighters report to the fire chief.
Head
A person considered foolish or contemptible. Often used in combination
A chowderhead.
Chief
(heraldry) The top part of a shield or escutcheon; more specifically, an ordinary consisting of the upper part of the field cut off by a horizontal line, generally occupying the top third.
Head
A portrait or representation of a person's head.
Chief
The principal part or top of anything.
Head
Often heads (used with a sing. verb) The side of a coin having the principal design, often the profile of a political leader's head.
Chief
An informal term of address.
Head
(Informal) A headache
Had a bad head early this morning.
Chief
An informal term of address for a Native American or First Nations man.
Head
An individual; a person
Charged five dollars a head.
Chief
Primary; principal.
Negligence was the chief cause of the disaster.
Head
Pl. head A single animal
20 head of cattle.
Chief
(Scotland) Intimate, friendly.
Head
A person who leads, rules, or is in charge; a leader, chief, or director
The head of the corporation.
Chief
To smoke cannabis.
Head
A headmaster or headmistress.
Chief
The head or leader of any body of men; a commander, as of an army; a head man, as of a tribe, clan, or family; a person in authority who directs the work of others; the principal actor or agent.
Head
The foremost or leading position
Marched at the head of the parade.
Chief
The principal part; the most valuable portion.
The chief of the things which should be utterly destroyed.
Head
A headwaiter.
Chief
The upper third part of the field. It is supposed to be composed of the dexter, sinister, and middle chiefs.
Head
The difference in depth of a liquid at two given points.
Chief
Highest in office or rank; principal; head.
Head
The measure of pressure at the lower point expressed in terms of this difference.
Chief
Principal or most eminent in any quality or action; most distinguished; having most influence; taking the lead; most important; as, the chief topic of conversation; the chief interest of man.
Head
The pressure exerted by a liquid or gas
A head of steam.
Chief
Very intimate, near, or close.
A whisperer separateth chief friends.
Head
The liquid or gas exerting the pressure.
Chief
A person who is in charge;
The head of the whole operation
Head
The froth or foam that rises to the top in pouring an effervescent liquid, such as beer.
Chief
A person who exercises control over workers;
If you want to leave early you have to ask the foreman
Head
The tip of an abscess, boil, or pimple, in which pus forms.
Chief
Most important element;
The chief aim of living
The main doors were of solid glass
The principal rivers of America
The principal example
Policemen were primary targets
Head
A turning point; a crisis
Bring matters to a head.
Head
A projection, weight, or fixture at the end of an elongated object
The head of a pin.
A head of land overlooking the harbor.
Head
The working end of a tool or implement
The head of a hammer.
Head
The looped part at the end a lacrosse stick, to which the webbing is attached.
Head
The part of an explosive device that carries the explosive; a warhead.
Head
The part of a stringed instrument where the strings are wound; a tuning head.
Head
A tuning machine.
Head
The rounded proximal end of a long bone
The head of the femur.
Head
The end of a muscle that is attached to the less movable part of the skeleton.
Head
An attachment to or part of a machine that holds or contains the operative device.
Head
The magnetic head of a tape recorder or VCR.
Head
The device in a magnetic disk or tape drive that enables it to read data from and write data to the disk or tape.
Head
A rounded compact mass, as of leaves or buds
A head of cabbage.
Head
(Botany) A flower head.
Head
The uppermost part; the top
Place the appropriate name at the head of each column.
Head
The end considered the most important
Sat at the head of the table.
Head
Either end of an object, such as a drum, whose two ends are interchangeable.
Head
The forward part of a vessel.
Head
The top part or upper edge of a sail.
Head
A toilet, especially on a ship.
Head
A passage or gallery in a coal mine.
Head
The top of a book or page.
Head
A headline or heading.
Head
A distinct topic or category
Under the head of recent Spanish history.
Head
Headway; progress.
Head
(Linguistics) The word determining the grammatical category of a constituent, often establishing relations of concord or agreement (such as subject-verb agreement) with other constituents.
Head
Vulgar Slang Oral sex.
Head
Of, relating to, or intended for the head. Often used in combination
Headshaking.
Headwrap.
Head
Foremost in rank or importance
The head librarian.
Head
Placed at the top or the front
The head name on the list.
Head
(Slang) Of, relating to, or for drugs or drug users.
Head
To be in charge of; lead
The minister headed the committee.
Head
To be in the first or foremost position of
Collins heads the list of job candidates.
Head
To aim, point, or turn in a certain direction
Headed the team of horses up the hill.
Head
To remove the head or top of.
Head
(Sports) To hit (a soccer ball) in the air with one's head.
Head
To provide with a head
Head each column with a number.
Headed the flagpole with a golden ball.
Head
To proceed or go in a certain direction
Head for town.
Head
To form a head, as lettuce or cabbage.
Head
To originate, as a stream or river; rise.
Head
(countable) The part of the body of an animal or human which contains the brain, mouth, and main sense organs.
Be careful when you pet that dog on the head; it may bite.
Head
(people) To do with heads.
Head
(animals) To do with heads.
Head
(countable) The topmost, foremost, or leading part.
What does it say at the head of the page?
Head
The end of a table.
Head
(countable) The principal operative part of a machine or tool.
Head
The foam that forms on top of beer or other carbonated beverages.
Pour me a fresh beer; this one has no head.
He never learned how to pour a glass of beer so it didn't have too much head.
Head
(engineering) The end cap of a cylindrically-shaped pressure vessel.
Head
(coopering) The end cap of a cask or other barrel.
Head
(geology) The uppermost part of a valley.
Head
Deposits near the top of a geological succession.
Head
(journalism) headline
Head
(medicine) The end of an abscess where pus collects.
Head
(music) The headstock of a guitar.
Head
(nautical) A leading component.
Head
(British) A headland.
Head
A leader or expert.
Head
The place of honour, or of command; the most important or foremost position; the front.
Head
(metonymy) Leader; chief; mastermind.
I'd like to speak to the head of the department.
Police arrested the head of the gang in a raid last night.
Head
(metonymy) A headmaster or headmistress.
I was called into the head's office to discuss my behaviour.
Head
A person with an extensive knowledge of hip hop.
Only true heads know this.
Head
A significant or important part.
Head
A beginning or end, a protuberance.
Head
A component.
Head
Headway; progress.
We are having a difficult time making head against this wind.
Head
Topic; subject.
We will consider performance issues under the head of future improvements.
Head
Denouement; crisis.
These isses are going to come to a head today.
Head
(fluid dynamics) Pressure and energy.
Head
A buildup of fluid pressure, often quantified as pressure head.
Let the engine build up a good head of steam.
How much head do you have at the Glens Falls feeder dam?
Head
The difference in elevation between two points in a column of fluid, and the resulting pressure of the fluid at the lower point.
Head
More generally, energy in a mass of fluid divided by its weight.
Head
Fellatio or cunnilingus; oral sex.
She gave great head.
Head
(slang) The glans penis.
Head
A heavy or habitual user of illicit drugs.
Head
(obsolete) Power; armed force.
Head
Of, relating to, or intended for the head.
Head
Foremost in rank or importance.
The head cook
Head
Placed at the top or the front.
Head
Coming from in front.
Head sea
Head wind
Head
(transitive) To be in command of. (See also head up.)
Who heads the board of trustees?
To head an army, an expedition, or a riot
Head
(transitive) To come at the beginning or front of; to commence.
A group of clowns headed the procession.
The most important items headed the list.
Head
(transitive) To strike with the head; as in soccer, to head the ball
Head
(intransitive) To move in a specified direction.
We are going to head up North for our holiday.
We will head off tomorrow.
Next holiday we will head out West, or head to Chicago.
Right now I need to head into town to do some shopping.
I'm fed up working for a boss. I'm going to head out on my own, set up my own business.
Where does the train head to?
Head
(fishing) To remove the head from a fish.
The salmon are first headed and then scaled.
Head
(intransitive) To originate; to spring; to have its course, as a river.
Head
(intransitive) To form a head.
This kind of cabbage heads early.
Head
(transitive) To form a head to; to fit or furnish with a head.
To head a nail
Head
(transitive) To cut off the top of; to lop off.
To head trees
Head
To behead; to decapitate.
Head
To go in front of.
To head a drove of cattle
To head a person
Head
To get in the front of, so as to hinder or stop; to oppose.
The wind headed the ship and made progress difficult.
Head
(by extension) To check or restrain.
Head
To set on the head.
To head a cask
Head
The anterior or superior part of an animal, containing the brain, or chief ganglia of the nervous system, the mouth, and in the higher animals, the chief sensory organs; poll; cephalon.
Head
The uppermost, foremost, or most important part of an inanimate object; such a part as may be considered to resemble the head of an animal; often, also, the larger, thicker, or heavier part or extremity, in distinction from the smaller or thinner part, or from the point or edge; as, the head of a cane, a nail, a spear, an ax, a mast, a sail, a ship; that which covers and closes the top or the end of a hollow vessel; as, the head of a cask or a steam boiler.
Head
The place where the head should go; as, the head of a bed, of a grave, etc.; the head of a carriage, that is, the hood which covers the head.
Head
The most prominent or important member of any organized body; the chief; the leader; as, the head of a college, a school, a church, a state, and the like.
The heads of the chief sects of philosophy.
Your head I him appoint.
Head
The place or honor, or of command; the most important or foremost position; the front; as, the head of the table; the head of a column of soldiers.
An army of fourscore thousand troops, with the duke of Marlborough at the head of them.
Head
Each one among many; an individual; - often used in a plural sense; as, a thousand head of cattle.
It there be six millions of people, there are about four acres for every head.
Head
The seat of the intellect; the brain; the understanding; the mental faculties; as, a good head, that is, a good mind; it never entered his head, it did not occur to him; of his own head, of his own thought or will.
Men who had lost both head and heart.
Head
The source, fountain, spring, or beginning, as of a stream or river; as, the head of the Nile; hence, the altitude of the source, or the height of the surface, as of water, above a given place, as above an orifice at which it issues, and the pressure resulting from the height or from motion; sometimes also, the quantity in reserve; as, a mill or reservoir has a good head of water, or ten feet head; also, that part of a gulf or bay most remote from the outlet or the sea.
Head
A headland; a promontory; as, Gay Head.
Head
A separate part, or topic, of a discourse; a theme to be expanded; a subdivision; as, the heads of a sermon.
Head
Culminating point or crisis; hence, strength; force; height.
Ere foul sin, gathering head, shall break into corruption.
The indisposition which has long hung upon me, is at last grown to such a head, that it must quickly make an end of me or of itself.
Head
Power; armed force.
My lord, my lord, the French have gathered head.
Head
A headdress; a covering of the head; as, a laced head; a head of hair.
Head
An ear of wheat, barley, or of one of the other small cereals.
Head
A dense cluster of flowers, as in clover, daisies, thistles; a capitulum.
Head
The antlers of a deer.
Head
A rounded mass of foam which rises on a pot of beer or other effervescing liquor.
Head
Tiles laid at the eaves of a house.
Head
Principal; chief; leading; first; as, the head master of a school; the head man of a tribe; a head chorister; a head cook.
Head
To be at the head of; to put one's self at the head of; to lead; to direct; to act as leader to; as, to head an army, an expedition, or a riot.
Head
To form a head to; to fit or furnish with a head; as, to head a nail.
Head
To behead; to decapitate.
Head
To cut off the top of; to lop off; as, to head trees.
Head
To go in front of; to get in the front of, so as to hinder or stop; to oppose; hence, to check or restrain; as, to head a drove of cattle; to head a person; the wind heads a ship.
Head
To set on the head; as, to head a cask.
Head
To originate; to spring; to have its source, as a river.
A broad river, that heads in the great Blue Ridge.
Head
To go or point in a certain direction; to tend; as, how does the ship head?
Head
To form a head; as, this kind of cabbage heads early.
Head
The upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains;
He stuck his head out the window
Head
A single domestic animal;
200 head of cattle
Head
That which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason;
His mind wandered
I couldn't get his words out of my head
Head
A person who is in charge;
The head of the whole operation
Head
The front of a military formation or procession;
The head of the column advanced boldly
They were at the head of the attack
Head
The pressure exerted by a fluid;
A head of steam
Head
The top of something;
The head of the stairs
The head of the page
The head of the list
Head
The source of water from which a stream arises;
They tracked him back toward the head of the stream
Head
(grammar) the word in a grammatical constituent that plays the same grammatical role as the whole constituent
Head
The tip of an abscess (where the pus accumulates)
Head
The length or height based on the size of a human or animal head;
He is two heads taller than his little sister
His horse won by a head
Head
A dense clusters of flowers or foliage;
A head of cauliflower
A head of lettuce
Head
The educator who has executive authority for a school;
She sent unruly pupils to see the principal
Head
An individual person;
Tickets are $5 per head
Head
A user of (usually soft) drugs;
The office was full of secret heads
Head
A rounded compact mass;
The head of a comet
Head
The foam or froth that accumulates at the top when you pour an effervescent liquid into a container;
The beer had a large head of foam
Head
The part in the front or nearest the viewer;
He was in the forefront
He was at the head of the column
Head
A difficult juncture;
A pretty pass
Matters came to a head yesterday
Head
Forward movement;
The ship made little headway against the gale
Head
A V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer;
The point of the arrow was due north
Head
The subject matter at issue;
The question of disease merits serious discussion
Under the head of minor Roman poets
Head
A line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about;
The heading seemed to have little to do with the text
Head
The rounded end of a bone that bits into a rounded cavity in another bone to form a joint;
The head of the humerus
Head
That part of a skeletal muscle that is away from the bone that it moves
Head
(computer science) a tiny electromagnetic coil and metal pole used to write and read magnetic patterns on a disk
Head
(usually plural) an obverse side of a coin that bears the representation of a person's head;
Call heads or tails!
Head
The striking part of a tool;
The head of the hammer
Head
(nautical) a toilet on board a boat or ship
Head
A projection out from one end;
The head of the nail
A pinhead is the head of a pin
Head
A membrane that is stretched taut over a drum
Head
Oral-genital stimulation;
They say he gives good head
Head
To go or travel towards;
Where is she heading
We were headed for the mountains
Head
Be in charge of;
Who is heading this project?
Head
Travel in front of; go in advance of others;
The procession was headed by John
Head
Be the first or leading member of (a group) and excel;
This student heads the class
Head
Direct the course; determine the direction of travelling
Head
Take its rise;
These rivers head from a mountain range in the Himalayas
Head
Be in the front of or on top of;
The list was headed by the name of the president
Head
Form a head or come or grow to a head;
The wheat headed early this year
Head
Remove the head of;
Head the fish
Head
To lead or be in charge of.
He will Head the new project.
FAQs
Can "Chief" and "Head" be used interchangeably?
In some contexts related to leadership, yes, but not always. "Chief" is more formal and specific, while "Head" has broader meanings.
Can "Chief" refer to the top part of something?
Not typically. "Chief" usually pertains to primary importance or leadership.
Why is "Chief" used in corporate titles like CEO?
"Chief" signifies top leadership or primary importance, making it suitable for high-level titles.
Is "Head" related to "Headway"?
Yes, "Headway" means progress or forward movement, derived from the idea of moving ahead.
Is "Head" always a noun?
No, it can also be a verb, like in "head towards the exit."
Do all organizations have a "Chief"?
Not necessarily, but most have a top leader, whether called Chief, Head, president, or another title.
Which is more formal: "Chief" or "Head"?
"Chief" is generally more formal, especially in titles.
Is "Head" always about leadership?
No, "Head" can also refer to the top or front part of something.
What's the opposite of "Chief"?
Depending on context, it might be "subordinate" or "minor."
Can animals have a "Chief"?
While not common, in some contexts, like a pack leader, one might refer to the leader as the Chief.
Does "Head" imply expertise?
Not always. A Head might be in charge due to seniority, expertise, or other reasons.
Are the terms "Head" and "Chief" culturally specific?
Their usage might vary by culture, but as English words, they have broad applications across contexts and regions.
Is the head of state the same as the chief executive?
It depends on the country's governance. In some, they're the same; in others, they are separate roles.
Can a group have multiple "Chiefs"?
It's less common, but possible. For instance, some organizations have a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Information Officer (CIO).
Why do some sports teams have a "Head" coach?
In this context, "Head" denotes the primary or leading coach responsible for the entire team.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
