royal

1 of 2

adjective

roy·​al ˈrȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce royal (audio)
1
a
: of kingly ancestry
the royal family
b
: of, relating to, or subject to the crown
the royal estates
c
: being in the crown's service
Royal Air Force
2
a
: suitable for royalty : magnificent
b
: requiring no exertion : easy
there is no royal road to logicJustus Buchler
3
a
: of superior size, magnitude, or quality
a patronage of royal dimensionsJ. H. Plumb
often used as an intensive
a royal pain
b
: established or chartered by the crown
4
: of, relating to, or being a part (such as a mast, sail, or yard) next above the topgallant

royal

2 of 2

noun

1
: a person of royal blood
2
: a small sail on the royal mast immediately above the topgallant sail
3
: a stag of 8 years or more having antlers with at least 12 points

Examples of royal in a Sentence

Adjective They received a royal welcome as they stepped off the plane. the school superintendent received a royal welcome Noun magazine stories about the private lives of royals
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.
Adjective
The witch in question is Jovovich’s Gray Alys, introduced on the brink of being hanged as a heretic by Ash (Arly Jover), a fervent enforcer in a dystopian future ruled by both a royal house and cult-like church. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 6 Mar. 2025 The flavors of sweet pineapple are paired with tropical dragonfruit, a royal fuchsia fruit that has a delicate sweetness and tartness similar to a pear or apple. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
As if that wasn’t enough, a few years later, the two walked away from being working royals and moved to the United States. Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 5 Mar. 2025 But rather than embodying an untouchable royal, Meghan’s embraced the 1% lifestyle the entire streaming-TV industry gleefully derides. Raven Smith, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for royal

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English roial, from Anglo-French real, roial, from Latin regalis, from reg-, rex king; akin to Old Irish (genitive rīg) king, Sanskrit rājan, Latin regere to rule — more at right

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of royal was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Royal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/royal. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

royal

adjective
roy·​al
ˈrȯi(-ə)l
1
: of or relating to a sovereign : regal
2
: fit for a king or queen
a royal welcome
royally
ˈrȯi-ə-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on royal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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