# premiership

/pɹɛˈmɪɹˌʃɪp/ (US) · /pɹˈɛmɪəʃˌɪp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/premiership
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. office of prime minister

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the period of time someone is prime minister, or the job itself.

For teachers: the office, period of office, or dignity of a premier or prime minister.

- Her premiership was marked by significant changes to the country's tax laws.
- Historians often debate whether his premiership was defined more by his domestic reforms or by his handling of the international crisis.

Usage: Often used with a possessive noun or pronoun to indicate a specific leader's time in power.

### 2. top sports league

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

the highest level of professional competition in a sport, especially football or rugby.

For teachers: the highest division of a professional sports league, most commonly referring to the top tiers of English football or rugby.

- The team worked hard all season to win a place in the premiership.
- After years of financial struggle, the club finally secured promotion to the premiership, guaranteeing them a massive increase in television revenue.

Usage: Usually capitalized when referring to a specific league name like the 'English Premiership'.

### 3. championship title

noun · CEFR C1 · Dialect · American English

the position of being the champion team at the end of a season.

For teachers: the status or title held by the champion team at the conclusion of a sporting season.

- The fans celebrated in the streets after the club won the premiership.
- Winning the premiership was a historic moment for the small-town team, who had never previously reached the grand final.

Teaching tip: This sense is particularly common in Australian Rules Football (AFL) contexts.

## Examples

- The country saw many changes during her premiership.
- Economic growth remained steady throughout his four-year premiership, despite significant global challenges.
- Historians often debate whether the successes of a premiership should be attributed to the leader's personal vision or to the broader socio-political climate of the era.

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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.