Skip to main content
Basic Technical IVT Commonly tested

Editor-in-Chief

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɛdɪtər ɪn tʃiːf/

The senior editorial leader responsible for overall management of a journal, including manuscript acceptance decisions, editorial direction, quality standards, and relationships with the publisher. The Editor-in-Chief oversees all editorial staff and sets the journal's strategic vision.

Plain English

The person in charge of running a journal and making final decisions about which articles to publish.

Etymology & History

Origin languageEnglish
Rooteditor (Latin editus, to publish) + in + chief (from Old French chief)
First recorded use1850s
Usage frequencyVery common

Usage

"The Editor-in-Chief decided to desk-reject the manuscript based on poor research design."

Style guide notes: Capitalize as a title when preceding a name; lowercase when used generically. Hyphenate 'Editor-in-Chief' consistently.

Also known as

chief editor journal editor principal editor

Related Terms

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do editors typically serve as Editor-in-Chief?

Most serve 3-5 year renewable terms, though this varies by journal and publisher agreement.

Can the Editor-in-Chief publish their own research in their journal?

Most journals require recusal from decisions on Editor-in-Chief submissions to avoid bias.

Why Test Candidates on This?

Essential for understanding journal organizational structure and decision-making authority.

Required skill level: Senior

Editors from these organisations have used our services since 1998

Reuters BBC Oxford University Press Penguin Random House Springer Microsoft Suncor Energy United Nations Fisher Investments IBM The Home Depot KODAK CHEVRON