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

An evil queen, a charming prince, the titular princess, a magic mirror and a septet of characters named Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy and Sneezy all can be seen in the new trailer for Disney’s Snow White (due in theaters March 21, 2025). —Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 3 Dec. 2024

He’s played doctors, lawyers, Civil Rights icons (American and African), cops, soldiers, cowboys, pilots, teachers, coaches, princes, kings, and everyday people just trying to get by. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Dec. 2024

To go from decades of development into production, what were the other breakthrough moments besides the reluctant prince? —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Nov. 2024

According to People magazine, that sum covered the official, charitable and private expenses of the prince as well as his wife and their children. —Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 9 Nov. 2024

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

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