the principal minister and head of government in parliamentary systems; chief of the cabinet or ministry:
the British prime minister.
Origin
1640-50
Related forms
prime-ministerial
[prahym-min-uh-steer-ee-uh l] /ˈpraɪmˌmɪn əˈstɪər i əl/ (Show IPA), adjective
prime-ministership, noun
prime ministry, noun
Examples from the web for prime minister
The prime minister heads the government and appoints cabinet ministers to run official departments.
The prime minister will make a speech and say that an earthquake is imminent.
But it is difficult to see how the prime minister will be able to deliver on the chief demands of the movement for three reasons.
They didn't meet with the king, and the prime minister didn't meet them either.
Civilization may have been hanging in the balance, but the prime minister wanted his bath.
She has served as prime minister, minister of social affairs, and minister of foreign affairs.
Two grown-ups-one a banker whose office is three blocks away-cannot tell me where to find the prime minister's office.
British Dictionary definitions for prime minister
prime minister
noun
1.
the head of a parliamentary government
2.
the chief minister of a sovereign or a state
Derived Forms
prime ministership, prime ministry, noun
Word Origin and History for prime minister
1640s, see prime (adj.) and minister (n.). Applied to the First Minister of State of Great Britain since 1694.
prime minister in Culture
prime minister definition
The head of government in many nations. Prime minister is commonly the title of the head of government in a parliamentary system, such as that of Britain or Canada.