imperial

adjective

im·​pe·​ri·​al im-ˈpir-ē-əl 

1

a

: of, relating to, befitting, or suggestive of an empire or an emperor

the Roman imperial age

imperial power

b(1)

: of or relating to the United Kingdom as distinguished from the constituent parts

(2)

: of or relating to the Commonwealth of Nations and British Empire

2

a

: sovereign

b

: regal, imperious

… humoring us with her fatigued imperial smiles …

—Arnold Bennet

3

a

: of superior or unusual size or excellence

… the market would have retained its imperial heights …

—John Kenneth Galbraith

b

sometimes Imperial : having a full body and a higher-than-average percentage of alcohol

an imperial stout

4

: belonging to the official British series of weights and measures see Weights and Measures Table

imperially

im-ˈpir-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of imperial

• magnificent
• glorious
• epic
• royal
• imposing
• majestic
• grand
• massive
• regal
• monumental
• proud

Examples of imperial in a Sentence

a member of the imperial family

envisioned an imperial city that would rival the capitals of Europe for beauty and magnificence

Recent Examples on the Web

The unintended consequence was light pollution, and in a country with deep astronomical roots—both Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe had worked in an observatory there under imperial patronage—that mattered. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 May 2026

As imperial forces traversed continents, the meanings and uses of these arrivals—whether people, plants, or ideologies— were actively negotiated and reshaped by the societies and environments compelled to contend with them. —Sophia Rey, JSTOR Daily, 28 May 2026

Eventually, the Millennium Falcon crew interrupts a high stakes deal between ex-Imperial officers and a ruthless band of pirates. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 26 May 2026

That was British imperial justice in 1763. —Literary Hub, 26 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English imperial, emperiall, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French emperial, imperiall, borrowed from Latin imperiālis "of the Roman emperor," from imperium "supreme administrative authority, power exercised by a Roman emperor" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at empire

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing imperial

• imperial moth

Rhymes for imperial

• cereal
• virial
• antibacterial
• biomaterial
• mycobacterial
• arterial
• bacterial
• ethereal
• funereal
• material
• sidereal
• venereal

Kids Definition

imperial

1 of 2 adjective

im·​pe·​ri·​al im-ˈpir-ē-əl 

: of, relating to, or fine enough for an empire or an emperor

imperially

-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

imperial

2 of 2 noun

: a pointed beard growing below the lower lip