chiefly

1 of 2

adverb

chief·​ly ˈchē-flē How to pronounce chiefly (audio)
1
: most importantly : principally, especially
2
: for the most part : mostly, mainly

chiefly

2 of 2

adjective

: of or relating to a chief
chiefly duties

Examples of chiefly in a Sentence

Adverb our video collection consists chiefly of comedies, but we have a few horror movies
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.
Adverb
However, spending has outpaced the constitutional spending cap, particularly as mandatory costs — chiefly Medicaid — have skyrocketed past earlier projections. Nick Coltrain, The Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2025 Yet details of the other cost-cutting measures in the club’s ‘transformation plan’ had already slipped out, chiefly the changes to the club’s provision of food for employees. Adam Crafton, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
This month, a new kind of space telescope is setting out on a two-year mission to create four complete maps of the entire celestial sky that will catalog the origins of the universe and seek out the ingredients of life − chiefly water and carbon dioxide molecules − in distant interstellar clouds. Stephen J. Beard, USA TODAY, 24 Feb. 2025 The latest: Tamarack Global has backed nine companies through Fund II, investing $250,000 to $5 million for chiefly seed through Series A rounds. Alan Neuhauser, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for chiefly

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1870, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chiefly was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Chiefly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chiefly. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

chiefly

adverb
chief·​ly
ˈchē-flē
1
: above all
2
: for the most part

More from Merriam-Webster on chiefly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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