premier

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

See synonyms for premier on Thesaurus.com

noun

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

adjective

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

Origin of premier

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 prīmārius “of the first rank”; see primary

Other words from premier

pre·mier·ship, noun

Words that may be confused with premier

premier , premiere

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use premier in a sentence

An Oxford-trained classicist, he was elected president of the Oxford Union, a post filled by several future premiers.
Boris Johnson’s Churchill Man Crush | Michael F. Bishop | November 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Prime ministers and premiers have been elected with 37% of the vote or less.
Why Doesn't Canada Have a Two Party System? | David Frum | October 6, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
The other Premiers agreed to consider whether Canada's preferential tariff policy could be followed.
The Canadian Dominion | Oscar D. Skelton
"Quatre premiers et quatre en plein," repeated Nancy, mechanically.
The Devourers | Annie Vivanti Chartres
Une éloquence naturelle, cultivée avec soìn, le fit briller dans le Barreau, et lui consilà l'estime des premiers magistrais.
On the Portraits of English Authors on Gardening, | Samuel Felton

His son Henry, in common with most of his author's jeunes premiers, has been similarly objected to as colourless.
The English Novel | George Saintsbury
"Could play jeune premiers just as he stands," I thought, as he shook my hand and seated me in a deep leathern armchair.
I Walked in Arden | Jack Crawford

British Dictionary definitions for premier

premier

/ (ˈprɛmjə) /

noun

another name for prime minister
any of the heads of governments of the Canadian provinces and the Australian states

(plural) Australian the winners of a premiership

adjective(prenominal)

first in importance, rank, etc
first in occurrence; earliest

Origin of premier

C15: from Old French: first, from Latin prīmārius principal, from prīmus first

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

Cultural definitions for premier

premier

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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