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

It was owned by German industrialists, British aristocrats, and even an Italian prince. —Chloe Braithwaite, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2024

However, the affected grandchildren retained their prince or princess titles, which became personal, meaning that any future spouses or children would not have a right to the styling. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 24 Apr. 2024

Lookalike characters are played by actors whose faces are exposed while performing, such as heroes, princes and princesses, including Tiana, Rapunzel, Elsa and Mulan. —Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024

Germany’s Beta Film is bringing the love story between a Dutch prince and a beautiful Argentinian financier to the Croisette. —Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024

West Virginia’s opulent Greenbrier resort has been a playground for princes and politicians since its opening in 1778. —Emily Matchar, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024

The crown prince and Al-Rumayyan face a more immediate problem than architectural details: how to pay for all these pricey projects. —Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024

Some members of the royal family, particularly the princes and princesses of its younger generation, are easy to slot into that victim role. —Amanda Taub, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024

Take a look → Mysterious wooden train car — almost 100 years old — unearthed in Belgium, photos show Weighing nearly 30 grams with a diameter of 4 centimeters, the coin had the depictions of two princes on each side, the museum said. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 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