royal

1 of 2

adjective

roy·​al ˈrȯi(-ə)l 

1

a

: having the ancestry of a monarch : belonging to royalty

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

received a royal welcome

b

: requiring no exertion : easy

There is no royal road to logic …

—Justus Buchler

3

a

: of superior size, magnitude, or quality

… a patronage of royal dimensions.

—J. 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

Synonyms of royal

Adjective

• regal
• aristocratic

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

Adjective

Now, however, researchers have found a royal inscription belonging to Babylon’s greatest builder, King Nebuchadnezzar. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 11 Jan. 2026

It’s been months since ex-Prince Andrew was stripped of his official titles, but his drama with the royal family isn’t done yet. —Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 10 Jan. 2026

Noun

In response, a spokesman for Buckingham Palace said that the helicopters allow for the royals to easily reach remote places and undertake multiple royal duties in one day, streamlining travel for maximum impact. —Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026

For years, Princess Anne—King Charles’ younger sister—has widely been regarded as the hardest-working royal. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 5 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English roial, from Anglo-French real, roial, from Latin regalis, from reg-, rex king; akin to Old Irish rī (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

Phrases Containing royal

• anti-royal
• battle royal
• coffee royal
• of royal descent
• presidential/royal pardon
• rhyme royal
• royal antler
• royal blue
• royal decree
• royal flush
• royal icing
• royal jelly
• royal palm
• royal poinciana
• royal purple
• the royal treatment
• the royal we

Rhymes for royal

• loyal
• disloyal
• pennyroyal

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