chefia

Chefia is a Portuguese term used to refer to the group of people who hold command or the position of being in charge within an organization, institution, or project. It can denote the individual who occupies the role of chief or boss, as well as the broader body of leaders that directs a department or unit. In everyday use, chefia contrasts with concepts such as subordinates, leadership, or governance, highlighting the structural or hierarchical aspect of authority.

Etymology and related terms: The word derives from chefe, meaning leader or chief, which comes from Old French chef and ultimately from Latin caput, meaning head. The suffix -ia forms a noun indicating a state, role, or collective. Related terms include chefe (the person), liderança (leadership), comando (command), and autoridade (authority).

Usage notes: Chefia is common in formal, administrative, and bureaucratic contexts, including public administration, corporate governance, and military settings. It can refer to the person in charge (“a chefia decidiu”) or to the management as a whole (“a chefia da empresa”). Registrational nuances exist across regions, where chefia may emphasize either the singular leadership role or the collective of those who exercise hierarchical authority.

Examples: A chefia aprovou o orçamento. Ele foi transferido para a chefia do departamento. Os recursos devem ser autorizados pela chefia.

See also: Chefe, Liderança, Autoridade, Hierarquia, Comando.