first among equals en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Calque of Latin primus inter pares.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) A person or position that is formally of equal rank to others in a group, but nonetheless takes a leading role within that group.
The Orthodox consider the bishop of Rome to have always been merely a first among equals.
I wonder whether Margaret Thatcher, Harold Macmillan, Winston Churchill, Lloyd George, Benjamin Disraeli and William Gladstone (going back in time) thought of themselves as mere firsts among equals.
2003, H. Y. Sharada Prasad, The Book I Won't be Writing and Other Essays, page 40:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| firsts among equals | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Relateds
Translations (12)
pl pierwszy wśród równych (leading a group of equals) · ga bheith i do shaoi i measc na sua (leading a group of equals) · da primus inter pares (leading a group of equals) · ru пе́рвый сре́ди ра́вных (leading a group of equals) · fi ensimmäinen vertaistensa joukossa (leading a group of equals) · la prīmus inter parēs (leading a group of equals) · fr premier parmi ses pairs (leading a group of equals) · it primus inter pares (leading a group of equals) · ka პირველი თანასწორთა შორის (leading a group of equals) · es primero entre iguales (leading a group of equals) · da først blandt ligemænd (leading a group of equals) · hu első az egyenlők között (leading a group of equals)