first among equals
noun phrase
: the leader of a group of people who is officially considered equal in rights and status to the other members of the group
As a director, he encourages collaboration and considers himself only (the) first among equals.
Examples of first among equals 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
Whereas Pope Francis holds supremacy over the Roman Catholic Church, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople is the first among equals in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2024
In the Indian system, based on the British model, the prime minister is supposed to be merely first among equals.
—Ramachandra Guha, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Nasrallah has emerged as a first among equals, the officials say.
—Mustafa Salim, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2024
Under India’s parliamentary system, the Prime Minister is a member of the legislature, first among equals.
—Daniel Brook, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2023
But for Swift, there’s one duet partner who is first among equals: Ed Sheeran.
—Eli Miller, Vulture, 16 June 2023
Ramsay is first among equals in the exceptional cast, but it’s left to another member of the cast to deliver what is arguably the biggest shock to the audience.
—Joe Leydon, Variety, 12 May 2023
Picard is still first among equals—the show has his name on it, after all—but once all the old TNG characters are finally back on the board, Stewart and Picard both feel more like players in an ensemble again.
—Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 22 Apr. 2023
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Aug. 2024
Whereas Pope Francis holds supremacy over the Roman Catholic Church, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople is the first among equals in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 4 May 2024
In the Indian system, based on the British model, the prime minister is supposed to be merely first among equals.
—Ramachandra Guha, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Nasrallah has emerged as a first among equals, the officials say.
—Mustafa Salim, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2024
Under India’s parliamentary system, the Prime Minister is a member of the legislature, first among equals.
—Daniel Brook, The New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2023
But for Swift, there’s one duet partner who is first among equals: Ed Sheeran.
—Eli Miller, Vulture, 16 June 2023
Ramsay is first among equals in the exceptional cast, but it’s left to another member of the cast to deliver what is arguably the biggest shock to the audience.
—Joe Leydon, Variety, 12 May 2023
Picard is still first among equals—the show has his name on it, after all—but once all the old TNG characters are finally back on the board, Stewart and Picard both feel more like players in an ensemble again.
—Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 22 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'first among equals.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“First among equals.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first%20among%20equals. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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