# chiefly

> English word · Adverb · IPA /ˈtʃiːf.li/ · frequency rank #16,663

## Definitions
1. Especially or primarily; above all.
2. Mainly or principally; almost entirely.

## Etymology
From Middle English chefly; equivalent to chief + -ly (adverbial suffix).

## Easily confused with
- **chiefs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chiefly-vs-chiefs)
- **chilly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chiefly-vs-chilly)
- **chief** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chief-vs-chiefly)

## Common misspellings (11)
`cchiefly`, `cheifly`, `chhiefly`, `chieffly`, `chieflly`, `chieflyy`, `chiefyl`, `chielfy`, `chifely`, `cihefly`, `hciefly`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/chiefly