palace

1 of 2

noun

pal·​ace ˈpa-ləs How to pronounce palace (audio)
Synonyms of palacenext
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

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
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Noun
The faceless courtiers of the palaces have often wielded such incredible power, and certainly William and Catherine want to move away from that model to make the experience a lot more collegiate. Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026 The new foodie palace in Coral Springs is a two-story, all-encompassing operation. Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 18 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 See All Example Sentences for palace

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of palace was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Palace.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palace. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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

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