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

Sophie and the prince have teamed up in the past, appearing together for The Royal Foundation’s screening of Rhino Man, a documentary about wildlife rangers, hosted by United for Wildlife at Battersea Power Station in June 2023. —Greta Bjornson, People.com, 3 June 2025

Italian prince explains decision to renounce throne to fashion model daughter, 19 Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy is the father of Vittoria, a 19-year-old student in the U.K. who is also a fashion model with a large Instagram following. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025

The most valuable object inside is an elephant ivory carving of an African prince. —Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 24 May 2025

One is made up of an Italian prince who marries an American woman named Maggie, the daughter of an extremely wealthy man. —The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 May 2025

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

Rhymes for prince

• mince
• quince
• rinse
• since
• wince
• convince
• evince

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