prime minister

noun

1
: the chief minister of a ruler or state
2
: the official head of a cabinet or ministry
especially : the chief executive of a parliamentary government
prime ministerial adjective
prime ministership noun
prime ministry noun

Examples of prime minister in a Sentence

the Prime Minister of England
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As Britain faces its seventh prime minister in a decade, spare a thought for the country’s young. — Letters To The Editor, Washington Post, 29 June 2026 Screaming Lord Sutch, founder of the Monster Raving Loony Party, enjoyed standing next to prime ministers in his top hat and leopard print jacket. — Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 The prime minister has also launched a sweeping anti-corruption campaign , which has led to the arrest of 47 officials, including members of parliament and oil industry figures. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 30 June 2026 Like nearly all of the prime minister’s rivals, Eisenkot has broadly supported Israeli military operations in places such as Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for prime minister

Word History

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prime minister was in 1655

Rhymes for prime minister

See All Rhymes for prime minister

Browse Nearby Words

prime meridian
prime minister
prime ministerial
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prime minister.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prime%20minister. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

prime minister

noun
: the chief officer of the government in some countries

Legal Definition

prime minister

noun
prime min·​is·​ter
-ˈmi-nə-stər
1
: the chief minister of a ruler or state
2
: the official head of a cabinet or ministry
especially : the chief executive of a parliamentary government
prime ministerial
-ˌmi-nə-ˈstir-ē-əl
adjective
prime ministership noun
prime ministry
-ˈmi-nə-strē
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on prime minister

Nglish: Translation of prime minister for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about prime minister

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