Standard Lemma guide

chieftainship

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The state of being a chieftain

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • 1852 Commission to Inquire into the Past and Present State of the Kafirs Shortly after the death of his father, Chaka obtained the chieftainship of the Zulu nation, through the influence of his patron.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The area ruled by a chieftain

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the position of chieftain

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: chieftaincy

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: position, post, berth, office, spot, billet, place, situation

History

Etymology

From chieftain + -ship. Piecewise doublet of captainship.