HomeServicesBlogDictionariesContactSpanish Course
Home › Dictionary › English › first among equals
Back to search

first among equals

Noun CEFR C1

Definitions

A person or position that is formally of equal rank to others in a group, but nonetheless takes a leading role within that group.

idiomatic

Equivalents

3 more languages

Examples

“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.”

CEFR level

C1
Advanced
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.
See all C1 English words →

See also

first and foremost first and last first angle projection first arch syndrome first article First Australian

Learn this word in context

See first among equals used in real conversations inside our free language course.

Start Free Course

Know this word better than we do? Language is a living thing — help us keep it growing. Collaborate with Babel Free