chiefdom

[ cheef-duh m ]
/ ˈtʃif dəm /

noun

the rank or office of a chief.
the territory or people over which a chief rules.

Origin of chiefdom

First recorded in 1570–80; chief + -dom

Words nearby chiefdom

chief of state, chief petty officer, chief rabbi, chief technician, chief warrant officer, chiefdom, chiefly, chieftain, chiel, chield, chiengmai

Example sentences from the Web for chiefdom

  • Candidates for the chiefdom had to show their fitness, and "a young lord's first spoil" was a necessary exploit.

    Irish Nationality |Alice Stopford Green

  • Sebituane's successor in the chiefdom was his daughter, Ma-mochisane.

    The Personal Life Of David Livingstone |William Garden Blaikie

  • It should be the largest and most magnificent of all the Indian head-dresses, as it is the insignia of chiefdom.

    Patriotic Plays and Pageants for Young People |Constance D'Arcy Mackay

  • His love for his wife was an insane love—it far outdid his love for his chiefdom.

    Skookum Chuck Fables |Skookum Chuck (pseud for R.D. Cumming)