chiefdom
1
7.1
- noun
- /ˈtʃifdəm/
:
jefatura
- In their chiefdom, the elders made important decisions about the community's welfare.
- small chiefdoms
- political chiefdoms
- large chiefdoms
Examples
-
The programs were successful in the chiefdom of Bukumbi in Mwanza District.
Academic text (1991) -
Disputes in chiefdoms are largely settled through informally sanctioned customs based on territorial group sentiments.
Academic text (1999) -
The political structures of the chiefdoms were similar throughout the mountain.
Academic text (1998) -
Her father finally called for Mishu to attend a family gathering in their chiefdom.
Academic text (2001) -
However, sometime in the second half of the eighteenth century, the area was divided into three chiefdoms.
Academic text (1998) -
My initial contacts with the Njayei society were in Bumpe Chiefdom, southwest of the town of Bo.
Academic text (1993) -
The Roman Catholics established the second mission in 1912 at Shisong in the chiefdom of Nso.
Academic text (2001) -
Service considers chiefdoms intermediate in the transition from egalitarian to state societies.
Academic text (1999) -
In Gonja, there was no further fragmentation, but violent conflicts between chiefdoms became common.
Academic text (1998) -
I then visited the neighboring chiefdoms of Lubu, Jong, Imperri, and Banta.
Academic text (1993)
Synonyms
9
9.6
An area controlled by one person or group, like a private kingdom
1
6.6
The time when a person leads a group
A position where a person leads a tribe or clan
The position and power of a tribal leader who leads people
A land area controlled by a ruler or state
How Powerful
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word chiefdom comes from chief, which originally meant 'head' or leader, plus the ending -dom, which means 'rule' or 'state' and is the same ending in kingdom. So a chiefdom is the area or society ruled by a chief, or the position of being a chief.