palace

1 of 2

noun

pal·​ace ˈpa-ləs 

1

a

: the official residence of a chief of state (such as a monarch or a president)

b

chiefly British : the official residence of an archbishop or bishop

2

a

: a large stately house

b

: a large public building

c

: a highly decorated place for public amusement or refreshment

a movie palace

palace

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of or relating to a palace

2

: of, relating to, or involving the intimates of a chief executive

a palace revolution

palace politics

3

: luxurious, deluxe

Synonyms

Noun

• castle
• château
• estate
• hacienda
• hall
• manor
• manor house
• manse
• mansion
• villa

Adjective

• Babylonian
• deluxe
• lavish
• Lucullan
• Lucullian
• luxe
• luxuriant
• luxurious
• luxury
• opulent
• palatial
• plush
• plushy
• silken
• sumptuous

Examples of palace in a Sentence

Noun

The town's old movie palace has been torn down.

the billionaire's “summer cottage” turned out to be an over-the-top palace

Adjective

a palace railroad car that was built for a 19th-century robber baron

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But the walls here and throughout are very much Steinem—a memory palace of images of family, friends, and the courageous women who have shared her beliefs in the feminist cause. —Sarah Medford, Architectural Digest, 12 Dec. 2024

Meanwhile, civilians broke into Assad’s palaces, looted shops and stole bags of cash from the central bank – prompting the rebels to declare a 13-hour curfew. —Mostafa Salem, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024

So far, the militants seem to have largely succeeded in keeping order in the capital, with little of the initial looting — at the presidential palace, the central bank, not to mention ATMs and SIM card-dispensing machines around town — that was seen Sunday. —Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024

Others ransacked the presidential palace and residence with Assad and other top officials gone. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English palais, from Anglo-French, from Latin palatium, from Palatium, the Palatine Hill in Rome where the emperors' residences were built

First Known Use

Noun

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

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

palace

noun

pal·​ace

ˈpal-əs

1

: the official residence of a ruler

2

: a large splendid house

3

: a large public building (as for a legislature, court, or governor)

Etymology

Noun

Middle English palais "palace," from early French palais (same meaning), from Latin palatium (same meaning), from Palatium, name of one of the Seven Hills of Rome on which the Caesars had their residences