primus inter pares

noun

pri·​mus in·​ter pa·​res ˈprī-məs-ˌin-tər-ˈpa-rēz How to pronounce primus inter pares (audio)
ˈprē-məs-
: first among equals

Examples of primus inter pares in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This concept goes back to the Latin phrase primus inter pares or first among equals. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Aug. 2024 The Constitution envisions Congress as primus inter pares. Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 7 July 2024 But in a family dynasty in which the king is supposed to be primus inter pares, the first among equals, even the defection of a minor prince fractures the foundation of dynastic rule. Madawi Al-Rasheed, Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2019 Almost at once, Morgenthau staked his ground: His office would become known as primus inter pares—first among equals, across the 93 federal judicial districts. Andrew Meier, Time, 14 Oct. 2022 The historic center of Orthodoxy is Constantinople—present-day Istanbul—and the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople is recognized by other patriarchs (there are nine in all) as primus inter pares, or first among equals. Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2022 Mark Zuckerberg is an unabashed fan of Augustus, the Roman emperor who referred to himself as primus inter pares, or first among equals. Kevin T. Dugan, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2021 Within countries there are prime ministers to mediate spending disputes among squabbling department heads, but the EU has no primus inter pares; the budget must be approved unanimously by its leaders. The Economist, 18 Jan. 2018 His performance mixed strength, lucidity and elegance in equal proportion, a civilized musical conversation in which the pianist functioned more as primus inter pares than soloist, as Beethoven surely intended. John Von Rhein, chicagotribune.com, 3 Nov. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'primus inter pares.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of primus inter pares was in 1688

Dictionary Entries Near primus inter pares

Cite this Entry

“Primus inter pares.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primus%20inter%20pares. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!