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

Inside, we were greeted by a reconstructed 2,700-year-old courtyard of Khorsabad, a palace of King Sargon II, leader of the Assyrian empire. —Catherine Porter Dmitry Kostyukov, New York Times, 16 May 2024

Advertisement Because nothing says carbon conscience like a trans-Atlantic flight to a palace. —Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 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