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 of prince

• 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

After the former prince was stripped of his remaining titles and privileges by his brother King Charles, he and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson were unceremoniously evicted from Royal Lodge. —Emma Banks, InStyle, 9 Mar. 2026

The British royal family has done its best to put distance between itself and the former prince Andrew. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 8 Mar. 2026

This is Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, a gripping portrait of a young prince caught between action and inaction, grief and rage, truth and deception. —Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2026

The crown prince founded the Iran Prosperity Project, a comprehensive policy framework launched in 2025 to guide the nation’s economic recovery and the restoration of the Cyrus Accords with Israel, according to CPAC. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026

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