prime minister: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High in political discourse, medium in general language.Formal
Quick answer
What does “prime minister” mean?
The head of government in a parliamentary system, typically the leader of the majority party in the legislature.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The head of government in a parliamentary system, typically the leader of the majority party in the legislature.
In some contexts, refers to the chief minister of a constituent country or region within a federal system, or historically to principal advisors in monarchies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'Prime Minister' is the standard title for the head of government. In American English, there is no prime minister; the equivalent role is the President, though the term may be used in reference to other countries or in academic contexts.
Connotations
In the UK, associated with parliamentary democracy and cabinet government. In the US, often viewed as a foreign political title with no direct domestic application.
Frequency
Much more frequent in British English due to the political system; in American English, usage is primarily in international or comparative politics.
Grammar
How to Use “prime minister” in a Sentence
Prime Minister of [country]the Prime Ministerunder the Prime Minister's leadershipVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “prime minister” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- prime-ministerial duties
American English
- prime ministerial responsibilities
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used directly; may appear in discussions about government policies affecting business.
Academic
Common in political science, history, and international relations for analyzing governance structures.
Everyday
Frequent in news media and general conversations about politics, especially in countries with parliamentary systems.
Technical
Used in legal, governmental, and diplomatic documents to specify the head of government.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “prime minister”
- Mispronouncing with stress on the second syllable of 'minister' (e.g., /ˈmɪnɪstər/ instead of /ˈmɪnɪstə/ in British English).
- Incorrect capitalization in non-specific contexts, such as writing 'prime Minister' instead of 'Prime Minister' when referring to a specific person.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is capitalized when used as a title before a name (e.g., Prime Minister Trudeau) but not in general references (e.g., the prime minister of Italy).
A prime minister is typically the head of government in parliamentary systems, accountable to the legislature. A president is often the head of state and may have executive powers in presidential or semi-presidential systems.
Yes, in most parliamentary systems, the prime minister can be removed through a vote of no confidence in the legislature or by losing the support of their party.
Usually, by being the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in the legislature and then being appointed by the head of state, such as a monarch or president.
The head of government in a parliamentary system, typically the leader of the majority party in the legislature.
Prime minister is usually formal in register.
Prime minister: in British English it is pronounced /praɪm ˈmɪnɪstə/, and in American English it is pronounced /praɪm ˈmɪnɪstər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “prime ministerial”
- “in the prime minister's shoes”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'prime' as in first or main, and 'minister' as in servant or official; so, the first official of the government.
Conceptual Metaphor
Often metaphorically described as 'the captain of the ship' for steering the country or 'the head of the table' in decision-making.
Practice
Quiz
What is a key characteristic of a prime minister's role?