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View synonyms for

premier

[ pri-meer, -myeer, pree-meer ]

noun

  1. the head of the cabinet in France or Italy or certain other countries; first minister; prime minister.
  2. a chief officer.


adjective

  1. first in rank; chief; leading.
  2. first in time; earliest; oldest.

premier

/ ˈɛə /

noun

  1. another name for prime minister
  2. any of the heads of governments of the Canadian provinces and the Australian states
  3. plural the winners of a premiership
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. first in importance, rank, etc
  2. first in occurrence; earliest
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

premier

  1. The head of government in many nations. A premier's position is usually the same as that of a prime minister . The chiefs of government of the provinces of Canada are called premiers.
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Other Word Forms

  • ·s󾱱 noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of premier1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English primer, primier, premer (adjective), from Anglo-French primer, premer and Middle French premier, primier, literally, “first,” from Latin īܲ “of the first rank”; primary
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Word History and Origins

Origin of premier1

C15: from Old French: first, from Latin īܲ principal, from īܲ first
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The contract to stage snooker's premier event at the Sheffield theatre expires in two years' time, and Hearn says the venue is "no longer fit for purpose".

From

Forest's last match in European football's premier club competition was in October 1980 when it was known as the European Cup before being rebranded the Champions League.

From

In Canada, the premier of Manitoba, Wab Kinew, signed a decree in an oversized folder and held it up with his signature, à la Trump.

From

A fifth consecutive league win was the perfect response to exiting the Champions League midweek as Villa fight to return to Europe's premier club competition next season.

From

The performance of English teams in Europe means the Premier League has received an extra fifth spot in the continent's premier club competition for next season, which leaves City in a healthy position.

From

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More About Premier

does premier mean?

Premier is used to refer to the head of the government of certain countries, equivalent to a prime minister, as in The premier of France gave a speech today.

Premier can also mean that something is highest in rank or is chief among a group, as in NASA is the premier authority on American spaceflight.

Alternatively, premier can mean that something occurred earliest in time or is the oldest, as in The director has come a long way since the inexperience she showed during her premier film.

The government position that a premier holds is referred to as a premiership, as in The popular premier restored a sense of respect and authority to the premiership.

The word premier can be easily confused with the word premiere, which is often pronounced exactly the same. Premiere refers to the first public showing or display of something, as in The museum announced the premiere of a new dinosaur exhibit scheduled for later this month. Notably, premiere is used as a verb while premier is not.

Example: The Italian premier met with the leaders of many other nations during the conference. 

Where does premier come from?

The first records of premier come from around 1400. It ultimately comes from the Latin īܲ  meaning “of the first rank.” Today, premier is used to refer to both the highest rank of something as well as the actual person who holds this rank.

When translating the title of a country’s first minister into English, premier can generally be used interchangeably with prime minister. However, different countries may have different preferences as to which English term you should use. It’s always wise to check first.

Did you know … ?

are some other forms related to premier?

are some synonyms for premier?

are some words that share a root or word element with premier?

are some words that often get used in discussing premier?

are some words premier may be commonly confused with?

How is premier used in real life?

Premier is commonly used as a leadership position in a government and to refer to something that was first.

Try using premier!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym of premier?

A. worst
B. oldest
C. earliest
D. leading

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