1
a
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 noun

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped out together for a good cause, marking the couple's first joint appearance since the prince's reunion with King Charles lll earlier this month. Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2025 To me Conrad is wholly fantasy, the dream man for the millions of Gen Z and millennial (and even older) women who have spent their entire lives dating fuckboys in hopes of a prince. Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 18 Sep. 2025 Once a loyal court magician supporting the crown prince from behind the scenes, Alec Ygret is cast aside and exiled for only knowing support magic. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 18 Sep. 2025 While the 1930s Santa Cruz surfers may have been shown as primarily white men, the sport dates back to 12th-century Polynesia and was first demonstrated in Santa Cruz by three Hawaiian princes in 1885. Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for prince

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of prince was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prince.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prince. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

prince

noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on prince

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