A woman who holds a chieftaincy in her own right or who derives one from her marriage to a male chief has been referred to alternatively as a chieftainess, a chieftess or, especially in the case of the former, a chief.

What is the definition of a Chieftess?

Filters. A female form of the word chief or chieftain, meaning the leader of a tribe or clan. noun.

What is a chiefess?

Definition of chiefess : a woman who is a chief —used especially in Polynesia.