prince

noun

ˈprin(t)s 

1

a

: monarch, king

b

: the ruler of a principality or state

2

: a male member of a royal family

especially : a son of the sovereign

3

: a nobleman of varying rank and status

4

: one likened to a prince

especially : a man of high rank or of high standing in his class or profession

princeship

ˈprin(t)s-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms

• baron
• captain
• czar
• tsar
• tzar
• king
• lion
• lord
• magnate
• mogul
• monarch
• Napoleon
• tycoon

Examples of prince in a Sentence

a neighborhood in which the city's merchant princes built palaces that shamelessly celebrated their wealth

Recent Examples on the Web

In February of last year, Harry’s claim was dismissed, a decision which the prince appealed. —Ellise Shafer, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025

Stuart’s prince is suave, worldly, world-weary, charismatic — every inch a prince, really. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 7 Apr. 2025

The logo depicts palm trees and hummingbirds, a favorite of the prince's, an insider told PEOPLE in February 2025. —Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Historian Philip Harling analyzes Hunt’s relentless campaign against the prince to determine how far the writer was willing to go to make his case that the prince was unfit to rule. —Emily Zarevich, JSTOR Daily, 4 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin princip-, princeps leader, initiator, from primus first + capere to take — more at heave entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing prince

• crown prince
• prince consort
• prince's feather

Rhymes for prince

• mince
• quince
• rinse
• since
• wince
• convince
• evince

Kids Definition

prince

noun

ˈprin(t)s 

1

: monarch sense 1

2

: a son or grandson of a monarch : a male member of a royal family

3

: a nobleman of very high rank

4

: a person of high standing in his class or profession

Etymology

Middle English prince "ruler, king," from early French prince (same meaning), from Latin princip-, princeps "leader, initiator," literally, "one who takes the first part," from primus "first" and capere "to take" — related to prime