Phrase guide

numero uno

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The most important of a group.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: baron, big cheese, big enchilada, big gun, big kahuna, big man, big name, big noise, big shot, bigwig, big wheel, boss, grand poobah, head honcho, heavy hitter, heavyweight, high muckamuck, high muckety-muck, king of all one surveys, king of the castle, king of the hill, kingpin, macher, mayor, muckamuck, muckety muck, mugwump, numero uno, panjandrum, poobah, rooster, somebody, top banana, top boy, top cat, top dog, top gun, very important person, VIP, wheel

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Oneself, especially one’s own interests.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Examples

  • In his business ventures, he always looks after numero uno.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From either Spanish número uno or Italian numero uno. Piecewise doublet of number one.