primus inter pares
noun
pri·mus in·ter pa·res
ˈprī-məs-ˌin-tər-ˈpa-rēz 
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 automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
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
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 10 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share