chief of staff

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The most senior officer who advises a leader and manages their staff.

   Grammar: Usually used with a possessive: the president's chief of staff.

   Patterns

   • someone's chief of staff
   • appoint a chief of staff
   • serve as chief of staff

   The mayor's chief of staff handles her daily schedule.

   She was promoted to chief of staff after ten years in the department.

   The general met with his chief of staff before the briefing.

2. 2nouncountablemilitary

   A senior military officer who leads the staff of a large army or armed force.

   Grammar: Often capitalized in official titles: Chief of Staff of the Army.

   Patterns

   • Chief of Staff of the Army
   • the chief of staff

   He served as Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

   The chief of staff ordered a review of the troops' readiness.

Word forms

Common combinations

White House chief of staff

The White House chief of staff coordinates the president's agenda.

appoint someone as chief of staff

They appointed her as chief of staff last spring.

deputy chief of staff

The deputy chief of staff filled in during the meeting.

chief of staff to someone

He is chief of staff to the governor.

Synonyms and how they differ

aide

An aide is a general personal assistant, usually more junior than a chief of staff.

right-hand man

Informal and less official; it stresses loyalty rather than the formal role.

Word family

staff noun

The group of people who work for an organization or leader.

Commonly confused: chief of staff or chief executive?

Practice

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