prime minister

American  

noun

1. the principal minister and head of government in parliamentary systems; chief of the cabinet or ministry.

   the British prime minister.

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prime minister British  

noun

1. the head of a parliamentary government

2. the chief minister of a sovereign or a state

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prime minister Cultural  

1. The head of government in many nations. Prime minister is commonly the title of the head of government in a parliamentary system, such as that of Britain or Canada.

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Other Word Forms

• prime ministership noun
• prime ministry noun
• prime-ministerial adjective
• prime-ministership noun

Etymology

Origin of prime minister

First recorded in 1640–50

Example Sentences

"The fact that the prime minister is now a woman, someone with a different background from what people are accustomed to, creates a feeling that something is shifting," she told Nikkei Asia.

From BBC

Thais vote Sunday in an election pitting the popular reformists who won last time against the conservative who ended up as prime minister, with ex-leader Thaksin Shinawatra looming large from his prison cell.

From Barron's

Brown, who was prime minister while Mandelson was in government, added that Sir Keir is "a man of integrity" who "wants to do the right things".

From BBC

But they are also angry with the prime minister.

From BBC

Her political mentor, the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was the third member of his family to serve as prime minister.

From The Wall Street Journal