Etymology
Calque of French premier ministre.
Noun
prime minister (plural prime ministers)
- The chief member of the cabinet and head of the government, especially in a parliamentary democracy; often the leader of the majority party.
- Yesterday we had a visit from the prime minister.
Usage notes
When referring to a particular prime minister, prime minister is capitalized according to some style guides, but it should only be capitalized when used before a person's name according to others.
- A. The Prime Minister issued a statement today.
- B. The prime minister issued a statement today.
- B. Prime Minister Johnson issued a statement today.
When referring to a prime minister by title and name together, British usage is, e.g., “the Prime Minister, Tony Blair” or “Tony Blair, the Prime Minister,” while North American usage is “Prime Minister Tony Blair.”
Related terms
- premiership
Credits
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