Plural of “editor-in-chief”

The plural of editor-in-chief is editors-in-chief (some dictionaries also accept editor-in-chiefs).

Why

"Editor-in-chief" is built from "editor," the head noun naming the actual person, plus the prepositional phrase "in chief," meaning holding the highest or principal rank. Because "editor" is the true head of the whole compound, the plural -s attaches there, giving "editors-in-chief" rather than "editor-in-chiefs."

This "in chief" construction, meaning "principal" or "chief among," is a French-influenced phrase that also appears in "commander-in-chief," both borrowed from a pattern where the modifying phrase follows rather than precedes the noun, mirroring the same word-order logic seen in "attorney general" and "court martial." The title itself is a relatively modern addition to publishing vocabulary, emerging alongside the growth of large newspapers and magazines in the 19th century that needed a clear top editorial title distinct from the many other editors working under them.

Usage note

"Editors-in-chief" is the standard, correct plural in publishing, journalism, and media industry writing discussing multiple such leaders ("the editors-in-chief of both magazines co-authored the statement"). "Editor-in-chiefs" appears occasionally in casual writing but is considered nonstandard and should be avoided in professional or edited contexts.

Large media organizations sometimes maintain multiple editors-in-chief across different publications or regional editions under one corporate umbrella, a structure that makes the plural genuinely common in media industry reporting about leadership changes, mergers, or joint editorial statements. The title itself sits at the top of a publication's editorial hierarchy, distinct from a "managing editor" (who typically handles day-to-day operations) or a "publisher" (who typically oversees business rather than editorial decisions), a distinction that matters in precise journalism-industry writing about who actually holds final editorial authority.

Common real mistakes

"Editor-in-chiefs" is the error you'll see most often, the natural result of treating the whole hyphenated title as one solid word instead of pluralizing "editor," the actual noun at its core. This formal title is also sometimes conflated with the more casual, differently ordered "chief editor," a phrase some publications use loosely and interchangeably even though it isn't the standard title and simply pluralizes as an ordinary compound, "chief editors."

The wider pattern

The military title "commander-in-chief" is built on the exact same "noun plus in chief" template and pluralizes the same way, at the leading noun rather than the tail end, a structure loosely related to, but not identical with, the French noun-adjective compounds like "attorney general" discussed elsewhere on this site.

Examples

• Both editors-in-chief announced the merger in a joint statement.
• The panel included editors-in-chief from three major publications.
• Several editors-in-chief resigned amid the controversy.
• The awards ceremony honored editors-in-chief for their decades of service.
• Former editors-in-chief shared their memories of the newsroom's early days.
• The magazine's editors-in-chief over the decades shaped its distinctive voice.
• Both editors-in-chief pushed back against the proposed layoffs.
• The conference gathered editors-in-chief to discuss the industry's future.
• Editors-in-chief from competing outlets rarely appear on the same panel.
• The new owners retained both editors-in-chief after the acquisition.
• The two editors-in-chief disagreed on how to cover the story.
• Industry veterans praised the outgoing editors-in-chief for their leadership.
• The publishing house appointed new editors-in-chief for each of its imprints.
• Both editors-in-chief spoke at the journalism school's graduation ceremony.
• The two editors-in-chief co-wrote the anniversary editorial.
• Several editors-in-chief attended the press freedom summit.
• The award recognized editors-in-chief who championed investigative journalism.
• The newsroom mourned the loss of two former editors-in-chief.
• Editors-in-chief from rival papers rarely collaborate publicly.
• The two editors-in-chief negotiated the terms of the joint investigation.
• The two editors-in-chief planned the retrospective issue together.
• Editors-in-chief across the industry praised the reporter's work.
• Both editors-in-chief signed off on the final layout.
• The two editors-in-chief exchanged notes ahead of the debate.
• Editors-in-chief from four countries joined the panel discussion.
• The two editors-in-chief finalized the special edition together.