premier

Definition of premier

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pɹɛmɪə(ɹ)/

Etymology

From Middle French premier (as an adjective).

Adjective

premier (not comparable)

1. Foremost, very first or very highest in quality or degree.

Noun

premier (plural premiers)

1. The head of a country's cabinet, see Prime Minister.
2. (Australian, Canadian) The head of a state or provincial government.
3. (nautical, slang) The first lieutenant or other second-in-command officer of a ship.

Usage notes

In British English, prime minister and premier are interchangeable while in Australia and Canada, the federal leader is the prime minister and the local leaders are premiers.

See also

• premiere

Verb

to premier (third-person singular simple present premiers, present participle premiering, simple past and past participle premiered)

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.