premiership

premiership — noun

1. the role of leading a government as prime minister, and the years spent in that

1.nounC1
Definition

the role of leading a government as prime minister, and the years spent in that role

Example

Mia's premiership began after the party won the election in May.

During Lee's premiership, taxes fell and three new hospitals opened.

during + premiership for a period in office

Common collocations
  • begin a premiership
  • end a premiership
  • long premiership
  • during a premiership
Synonyms
  • prime ministership

    Almost the same meaning, but less common in everyday use.

  • administration

    Can mean the whole government period, not only one leader's office.

  • leadership

    Much broader and not limited to national politics.

Antonyms
  • opposition

    Refers to being outside government rather than holding the top office.

Usage Note

Often follows words like 'during', 'under', or 'throughout' when the focus is on a leader's time in office rather than one single action.

Common Mistakes

During her premiership as president, trade grew fast.
During her presidency, trade grew fast.
'premiership' is used for a prime minister or premier, not a president.

2. the highest football level in England, now officially named the Premier League

2.nounB2
Definition

the highest football level in England, now officially named the Premier League

Example

Leeds returned to the premiership after winning the second division.

return to the premiership after promotion

Only twenty clubs, from Arsenal to Wolves, can play in the premiership each season.

Common collocations
  • return to the premiership
  • stay in the premiership
  • premiership match
  • premiership club
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • Championship

    Usually the level just below the English top football division.

Usage Note

In modern football writing, the official name is usually 'the Premier League'. 'Premiership' is more common in older wording or informal references.

Common Mistakes

Liverpool won the premiership of Spain.
Liverpool won the premiership in England.
this sense refers to England's top football league.

3. England's top rugby union league

3.nounC1
Definition

England's top rugby union league

Example

Bath won the premiership after a close final at Twickenham.

win the premiership in rugby union

Young forwards in Bristol dream of playing in the premiership.

Common collocations
  • play in the premiership
  • win the premiership
  • leave the premiership
  • premiership game
Synonyms
  • top flight

    Informal and only works when rugby context is already clear.

  • top division

    A general label for the highest rugby level.

Usage Note

Usually clear only when the context is rugby union. Distinguish it from sense 2, which refers to football.

Common Mistakes

He moved from the rugby premiership to another football club.
He moved from the rugby premiership to another rugby club.
this sense is for rugby union, not football.

4. the clubs in England's top football league, or in the similar top rugby league,

4.nounC1
Definition

the clubs in England's top football league, or in the similar top rugby league, seen as one group

Example

Three premiership sides sold their captains during the summer.

premiership sides meaning top clubs

Fans in York say the premiership takes too much television money from smaller clubs.

Common collocations
  • premiership sides
  • premiership clubs
  • join the premiership
  • trouble the premiership
Synonyms
  • top clubs

    A plain phrase for the strongest teams.

  • elite sides

    Slightly more journalistic in tone.

  • big clubs

    Broader and can include famous teams outside the top league.

Antonyms

Usage Note

Distinguish from senses 2 and 3: this sense points to the clubs as a group, not to the competition itself.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For sense 1, premiership is the most exact word when you mean the office of a prime minister or the years that person stays in power. Prime ministership is very close in meaning, but it is less common in ordinary writing. Administration often refers to a whole government and its policies, so it is wider than one leader's office. Leadership is wider still: it can describe control in politics, business, sport, or any group. Use premiership when the title matters. You can say 'During her premiership, taxes fell.' If you mean the whole governing team, 'the administration introduced new tax rules' is usually better.

prime ministershipadministration ↗leadership ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Premiership was formed in English from premier and the ending -ship. Premier came through French with the idea of being first or leading, and that French word goes back to Latin. The ending -ship often makes nouns for a role, state, or period of holding a position, so premiership first meant the office or term of a premier or prime minister. Later, especially in British English, it was also used for top-level sports competitions and the clubs in them.