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 of palace

Noun

• mansion
• castle
• hacienda
• villa
• manor
• estate

Adjective

• luxurious
• luxury
• deluxe
• luxuriant
• palatial
• lavish

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

When one steps through its doors, they are transported into an ornate palace that seems to exist outside of time. —Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026

The damage to the palace and neighboring heritage sites was later confirmed in a statement by Rouhollah Seyyed al-Asgari, the Deputy for Cultural Heritage of Isfahan Province. —News Desk, Artforum, 13 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Another senior cleric, Behbahani, not only threw his weight behind the Shah but, as evidence strongly suggests, accepted CIA money to stage pro-palace demonstrations. —Bobby Ghosh, Time, 5 Mar. 2026

From royal milestones to her post-palace era, Meghan Markle's wardrobe has delivered a steady stream of defining style moments. —Frances Solá-Santiago, InStyle, 5 Mar. 2026

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

Rhymes for palace

• allis
• balas
• callous
• callus
• chalice
• gallus
• malice
• malus
• pallas
• phallus
• talis
• talus

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