first chair

noun

The premier of several musicians playing a particular instrument in an orchestra: seated closest to the audience, taking the lead for that instrument's movements, and playing any solos.

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Meanings

nounfirst chair (plural first chairs)

plural first chairs

  1. The premier of several musicians playing a particular instrument in an orchestra: seated closest to the audience, taking the lead for that instrument's movements, and playing any solos.
Cite this entry
APA

first chair. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first%20chair

MLA

“first chair.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first%20chair. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “first chair,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/first%20chair.

Source: first chair on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.