prince

noun

ˈprin(t)s 

1

a

: monarch, king

b

: the ruler of a principality or state

2

: a male member of a royal family

especially : a son of the sovereign

3

: a nobleman of varying rank and status

4

: one likened to a prince

especially : a man of high rank or of high standing in his class or profession

princeship

ˈprin(t)s-ˌship 

noun

Synonyms

• tycoon
• magnate
• king
• lord
• monarch
• baron
• lion
• czar

Examples of prince in a Sentence

a neighborhood in which the city's merchant princes built palaces that shamelessly celebrated their wealth

Recent Examples on the Web

Amid Warnings Tears as Amal Clooney Honors Girl Who Rejected 'Child Bride' Path The young prince was enthusiastically greeting royal fans at the start Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations when Charlotte reached over to pull his hand down. —Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

The prince had problems reaching Balmoral, as communication with the rest of the family was limited. —Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 30 June 2025

When the prince falls from a great height, his knight rescues him on horseback. —Jenny Gold, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025

The controversial books include one in which the handsome prince falls in love not with a princess, but with the knight who helps him defeat a dragon. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin princip-, princeps leader, initiator, from primus first + capere to take — more at heave entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing prince

• crown prince
• prince consort
• prince's feather

Rhymes for prince

• mince
• quince
• rinse
• since
• wince
• convince
• evince

Kids Definition

prince

noun

ˈprin(t)s 

1

: monarch sense 1

2

: a son or grandson of a monarch : a male member of a royal family

3

: a nobleman of very high rank

4

: a person of high standing in his class or profession

Etymology

Middle English prince "ruler, king," from early French prince (same meaning), from Latin princip-, princeps "leader, initiator," literally, "one who takes the first part," from primus "first" and capere "to take" — related to prime