Cheif or chief?
Did you mean chief? Here's the right spelling and how to remember it.
Incorrect
cheif
Correct
chief
Correct spelling: chief. Misspelling: cheif.
letters the misspelling gets wrong or leaves out letters that shouldn't be there
Memory tip
I before E: ch-IE-f.
Why people write “cheif”
The misspelling “cheif” is only one letter off: it writes EI instead of IE, the classic "i before e" trap.
Spell-checkers catch the mistake in a document, but not in a handwritten note, a text message or a word game. Writing the word out a few times while saying the tricky part aloud is the quickest way to make chief automatic.
Other misspellings of “chief”
People also write “chiefe”. Here is where each one goes wrong.
“chiefe”
Correct spelling: chief. Misspelling: chiefe.
letters the misspelling gets wrong or leaves out letters that shouldn't be there
The misspelling “chiefe” is only one letter off: it adds an extra vowel, E.
What does “chief” mean?
chief noun
Definitions from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Full dictionary entry
“Chief” in a sentence
- The fire chief gave a press conference.
- The head of the whole operation.
- If you want to leave early you have to ask the foreman.
- The chief aim of living.
Is “chief” a playable word?
13 points in Scrabble · 13 in Words With Friends
- Scrabble (US)
- Scrabble (UK)
- Words With Friends
“cheif” is not accepted in any of these games. See every word you can make from CHIEF.