premier

The word “premier” means ranked first in importance, quality, or status. In plain terms, as an adjective, "top" or "leading"; as a noun, the top political leader of a country, state, or province.

“Premier” is pronounced PREH-mee-air (/pɹɪˈmɪəɹ/ in IPA).

Here is “premier” used in a sentence: “It's widely regarded as the premier golf tournament in the country.”

Words with a similar meaning to “premier” include prime minister and first minister.

Depending on how it is used, “premier” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “premier” comes from Latin. From Middle French premier ("first"), from Latin primarius — a doublet of the word primary.

“Premier” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

“Premier” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: ranked first in importance, quality, or status.

Premier is usually an adjective meaning first or best in rank, as in the premier team in the league. Premiere is a noun or verb about a first public performance, such as a film's premiere or a show that premieres tonight. The extra 'e' in premiere links it to the theatre.

Yes. Premier signals the highest standing in importance, quality, or status, so it carries clear approval. Describing something as the premier choice or a premier destination marks it out as leading or best in its field, which is why it is a common and effective word in praise and marketing.

For example: 'Oxford is one of the world's premier universities.' Here premier means ranked first in quality or reputation. Similar phrasings include the premier event of the season or the country's premier orchestra, each naming the top example of its kind.

Yes. As a noun, premier is another word for a head of government, a prime minister or, in some countries, the leader of a state or province. This use shares the same root idea of being first or foremost, in this case among ministers.