What does premiership mean?
Premiership most commonly refers to the office or period of being prime minister, as in a politician's premiership or a contest for the premiership. It can also refer to the period during which a particular person serves as prime minister. In British and Australian sporting language, the word denotes the championship or first-place title, especially the title won by a team or player in a league or competition. The political sense carries an institutional and historical association with national government, while the sporting sense conveys the achievement of ultimate success. The word is relatively uncommon in American English, where “prime ministership” is more typical for the political meaning and “championship” for the sporting one. Understanding both senses is important because the word's political and sporting uses are both established and conventional.
The office or position of prime minister, or the period during which someone holds that office.
"His premiership was marked by significant political reform."
Especially common in British and other Commonwealth varieties of English.
The championship or first-place title in a sporting competition.
"The team won the premiership in its final match."
Particularly established in British and Australian sporting terminology.
Used when referring to separate periods in office, different political tenures, or multiple sporting championships.
"He succeeded to the premiership after serving as deputy prime minister."
One word can mean both the political job of prime minister and the ultimate prize in a sporting league.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does premiership come from?
The word combines the English form “premier” with the suffix “-ship.” English “premier” comes through Old French premier from Latin primarius, derived from primus, meaning “first.” The suffix “-ship” is an Old English-derived formation that can indicate a state, condition, role, or period, and it is used here to express the position or period associated with a premier.
How premiership is actually used
The political sense is especially associated with British Commonwealth usage. The sporting sense is particularly common in Australian and British English; in some countries, “championship” is the more usual term.
Easily confused with premiership
A premier is a prime minister, while a premiership is the office or period of holding that position.
A premiere is the first public showing of a film or play, whereas a premiership concerns political office or the achievement of finishing first in a competition.