prince

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

princeship

2 of 2

noun (2)

prince·​ship ˈprin(t)sˌship 

-nˌsh-

1

: the dignity or position of a prince

2

: the period during which a prince (as an heir apparent) is such

Synonyms of prince

Noun (1)

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

Examples of prince in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

To ensure compliance, three imperial princes were tasked with personally notifying senior Japanese military commanders of the surrender. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026

At one moment, the young prince glances down with his doe eyes before looking shyly off to the side at his mom and breaking out into a giggle. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026

The Targaryen prince does not order his own dragon to pursue. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026

But Mama’s imagination helps the time pass more quickly, and the duo become brave knights protecting from a dragon from a prince, or heroes capturing art thieves at a museum. — Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

prince + -ship

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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

Noun

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