ENGLISH
REFERENCE

premier

adj. · n. · v.
US //pɹɛˈmɪɹ// UK //pɹˈɛmɪɐ// pre·mier
  1. 1 best or most important (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the best, most important, or highest quality of its kind.

    foremost in status, quality, or importance; often used in marketing to denote a top-tier product or service.

    Example

    The city is known as the premier destination for shoppers in the region.

    Example

    The university has established itself as the country's premier research institution, attracting significant funding from international tech giants.
  2. 2 government leader (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Law

    the leader of a government, especially in countries like Canada or Australia.

    the head of government in a parliamentary system, specifically used for the leader of a state or province in certain Commonwealth nations.

    Example

    The Premier announced new funding for schools during the press conference.

    Example

    The Premier of Ontario met with federal officials to discuss the proposed changes to the healthcare budget.

    Usage

    In Australia and Canada, 'Premier' refers to the head of a state or provincial government, while 'Prime Minister' refers to the national leader.
  3. 3 ship's second-in-command (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Slang Informal Science

    a casual name for the second-highest officer on a ship.

    a colloquial term for the first lieutenant or the officer second in command of a vessel.

    Example

    The crew waited for the premier to give the order to start the engines.

    Example

    As the premier of the vessel, he was responsible for the daily discipline and operational readiness of the deck crew.
    • first lieutenant
    • number one
  4. 4 to show for the first time (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Theatre

    to show a film, play, or product to the public for the first time.

    to present or exhibit a creative work or product for the first time; often used transitively.

    Example

    The studio plans to premier the new documentary at the film festival next month.

    Example

    The tech company chose to premier its latest smartphone at a private event in San Francisco before the global release.

    Usage

    Often confused with the noun 'premiere'; while 'premier' can be a verb, 'premiere' is the more common spelling for the first performance.
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French premier (adjective), from Latin prīmārius. Doublet of primary.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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Last updated June 19, 2026