prime minister

American  

noun

• prime ministers
  plural

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• prime ministers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of prime minister

First recorded in 1640–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prime minister

He and Chavez, his prime minister at the time, faced charges of plotting a coup over the bid to dissolve Congress.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

If his opponents fail, he would stay as acting prime minister until new elections can take place.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party came to power after elections in February this year, with its leader Tarique Rahman now prime minister.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

In Carney, Trudeau’s Liberal Party successor as prime minister, Smith has found an unlikely ally.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Yoshida was not only lying to his bosses at TEPCO, he was also defying an order from the prime minister of Japan.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland