Premier means first in importance, rank, or quality. The premier research university in a field attracts the best students and professors. A city's premier restaurant is the one everyone considers the finest. When something is described as premier, it stands at the top of its category.

The word comes from French, where it simply means “first.” You'll often see it in phrases like “the premier expert on dinosaurs” or “the nation's premier science museum.” It suggests being recognized as the best or most important in its field.

Premier can also be a noun meaning a head of government, particularly in countries like Canada, Australia, or the United Kingdom, where it refers to leaders similar to prime ministers. The Premier of Ontario, for example, leads that Canadian province's government.

Notice that premier is different from premiere (with an 'e' at the end), which means the first public performance or showing of something, like a movie premiere. When you see premier without that final 'e', think “top quality” or “most important,” not “first time.” A premier movie theater might host a film's premiere, but the words mean different things.