premier
PREH-mee-air
Premier (adjective) means Ranked first in importance, quality, or status. Example: “It's widely regarded as the premier golf tournament in the country.”
adjective
1
Ranked first in importance, quality, or status.
"It's widely regarded as the premier golf tournament in the country."
"The city's premier hospital treats the most complex cases."
"She is regarded as the premier violinist of her generation."
noun
1
The head of a government, especially a prime minister or the leader of a state/provincial government.
"The premier announced new funding for schools."
"The premier met local leaders to discuss the new road project."
"Journalists crowded around the premier as she left the parliament building."
How to use premier
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs an adjective, "top" or "leading"; as a noun, the top political leader of a country, state, or province.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "premiere" (the first showing of a film or show) — premier is about rank or a political leader.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
premier league
state premier
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Word forms
- Plural
- premiers
- Third person singular
- premiers
- Past tense
- premiered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It's widely regarded as the _____ golf tournament in the country.
Etymology
From Middle French premier ("first"), from Latin primarius — a doublet of the word primary.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for premier
See all rhymes for premier →Frequently asked questions
What does “premier” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “premier”?
“Premier” is pronounced PREH-mee-air (/pɹɪˈmɪəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “premier” in a sentence?
Here is “premier” used in a sentence: “It's widely regarded as the premier golf tournament in the country.”
What is another word for “premier”?
Words with a similar meaning to “premier” include prime minister and first minister.
What part of speech is “premier”?
Depending on how it is used, “premier” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “premier” come from?
The word “premier” comes from Latin. From Middle French premier ("first"), from Latin primarius — a doublet of the word primary.
Is “premier” a common word?
“Premier” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “premier” have?
“Premier” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: ranked first in importance, quality, or status.
What is the difference between premier and premiere?
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.
Is premier a positive word?
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.
What is an example of premier used as an adjective?
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.
Does premier have other meanings?
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.
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