# premier

/pɹɛˈmɪɹ/ (US) · /pɹˈɛmɪɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/premier
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. best or most important

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- The city is known as the premier destination for shoppers in the region.
- The university has established itself as the country's premier research institution, attracting significant funding from international tech giants.

### 2. government leader

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

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

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

- The Premier announced new funding for schools during the press conference.
- 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. ship's second-in-command

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Informal

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

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

- The crew waited for the premier to give the order to start the engines.
- As the premier of the vessel, he was responsible for the daily discipline and operational readiness of the deck crew.

### 4. to show for the first time

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

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

## Examples

- The premier announced a new plan for the city's schools.
- After the election results were confirmed, the premier addressed the public to outline the government's priorities for the coming year.
- While the federal government handles national defense, the premier of each province maintains significant authority over local healthcare and educational infrastructure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.