What does "premier" mean?
The head of government in parliament and leader of the cabinet.; The prime minister.
Premier
/pɹɪˈmɪəɹ/ adj, noun, verb, slang
adj, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The head of government in parliament and leader of the cabinet.; The prime minister.
- Grammar: premier is listed as adj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: prime minister, first minister, all-absorbing, arch.
- Useful contrasts: final, inferior, last.
- Usage evidence: Today's paper reports that the premier has given up the idea of visiting America.
How to use "premier"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "premier" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "premier" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "premier" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "premier" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "premier" is acting as adj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "prime minister" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "premier", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The head of government in parliament and leader of the cabinet.; The prime minister. UK, Westminster-system
"1871 July 29, “Our Tyrant”, The Spectator, Volume 303, Issues 9308-9315, page 910, Mr. Gladstone had literally no option. Not to coerce the Lords was to coerce the Commons to continue purchase in spite of their repeated votes for its abolition, and this the Premier had as little the power as the will to do."
- 2 the person who is head of government (in several countries) wordnet
- 3 The head of government in parliament and leader of the cabinet.; The leader of a state or provincial government and cabinet. Australia, Canada, South-Africa, UK, Westminster-system
"More surprising than the company′s activities and interests were those of the premier of Ontario, Mitchell Hepburn."
- 4 the person who holds the position of head of the government in the United Kingdom wordnet
- 5 The government leader in a legislative congress or leader of a government-level administrative body; the head of government.
"1983, Guo Zhou, China & the World, Volume 4, Beijing Review, page 13, This shows that our policy of strengthening friendly ties with Africa as developed by Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai is a correct one and that it has won popular support in Africa."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 The first lieutenant or other second-in-command officer of a ship. slang
- 7 The champion team of a particular season (especially as used in Australian rules football). Australia
Verb
- 1 To perform, display or exhibit for the first time.
"The composer invited all his friends when they premiered the movie he orchestrated, we got to see it before anyone but the crew."
- 2 perform a work for the first time wordnet
- 3 To govern in the role of premier.
- 4 be performed for the first time wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Foremost; first or highest in quality or degree. not-comparable
"2004, Philip Moore, Scouting an Anthropology of Sport, Anthropologica, Volume 46, Number 1, Canadian Anthropology Society, page 40, This failure, for a team associated with one of the premier Australian Rules Football teams with the longest of traditions, is truly enormous."
- 2 Most ancient; first to hold a specified status. not-comparable
"PREMIER, a. This French word, which signifies first, is used by English Heralds to signify the most ancient Peer of any Degree by Creation; as Premier Baron, &c."
Adjective
- 1 preceding all others in time wordnet
- 2 first in rank or degree wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Today's paper reports that the premier has given up the idea of visiting America."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "premier"?
Common synonyms include: prime minister, first minister, all-absorbing, arch, benchmark dataset, best.
How do you use "premier" in a sentence?
Today's paper reports that the premier has given up the idea of visiting America.
How do you pronounce "premier"?
Pronounced /pɹɪˈmɪəɹ/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French premier (adjective), from Latin prīmārius. Doublet of primary.