dauphin

noun

dau·​phin ˈdȯ-fən 

ˈdō-;

ˌdō-ˈfaⁿ 

often capitalized

: the eldest son of a king of France

Examples of dauphin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Watching Mickey 17 reminded me of his turn in the 2019 historical epic The King, playing the dauphin of France, the oozingly pretentious son of King Charles VI. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025

Acquisitions in 2023 include a grand royal portrait and a teacup fit for a French dauphin. —Brian T. Allen, National Review, 6 Apr. 2024

Then known as Archduchess Maria Antonia, she was betrothed to the French dauphin, the future Louis XVI, to cement an alliance between their two countries. —Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Mar. 2023

The number of people invited to the event was determined by the event’s location, the Théâtre Gabriel, a blue and gold-gilded opera house built by Louis XV and inaugurated at the wedding of the dauphin (later Louis XVI) to Marie Antoinette. —Vogue, 25 Apr. 2022

During the outbreak of 1711 alone, smallpox killed the Holy Roman emperor Joseph I; three siblings of the future Holy Roman emperor Francis I; and the heir to the French throne, the grand dauphin Louis. —New York Times, 27 Apr. 2021

In actuality, Mary was first betrothed to the dauphin and then later to Charles V, all for political gain and matters of diplomacy. —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 16 Nov. 2020

Mary’s great-aunt Louise de Bourbon-Vendôme, Abbess of Fontevraud, sent her the prayer book between 1558—the year the young queen married the French dauphin, Francis II—and 1561, when Francis died unexpectedly at age 16. —Theresa MacHemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 June 2020

Like a dauphin’s, his private routine is often observed. —Kennedy Fraser, Vogue, 19 Feb. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dolphin, from Anglo-French dolphyn, from Old French dalfin, title of lords of the Dauphiné, from Dalfin, a surname

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dauphin

• hohenstaufen

Kids Definition

dauphin

noun

dau·​phin ˈdȯ-fən 

often capitalized

: the eldest son of a king of France

Geographical Definition

Dauphin

geographical name

Dau·​phin ˈdȯ-fin 

island in southwestern Alabama at the entrance to Mobile Bay