royal

1 of 2

adjective

roy·​al ˈrȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce royal (audio)
Synonyms of royalnext
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

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 idea of farming out one of your iconic brands to a third-party producer may seem anathema to some, but under the terms of the BBC’s operating agreement, known as its royal charter, the corporation has a duty to put in-house shows out to the market. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 11 June 2026 Wardrobe trunks such as the one on offer played a specific role in life at court, carrying garments, linens, and other personal effects from one royal residence to another as monarchs switch up their abode based on the season—from, say, residences like Palaces of Fontainebleau. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 11 June 2026
Noun
All eyes will be on the princess, 44, at Trooping the Colour on June 13, when the senior royals will gather for a ceremonial military parade held annually to mark the official birthday of the British monarch. Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026 They are usually given out by the king or a senior royal acting in his place, increasingly at Windsor Castle where Charles largely resides. ABC News, 12 June 2026 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 13 Jun. 2026.

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

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