princess

1 of 2

noun

prin·​cess ˈprin(t)-səs How to pronounce princess (audio)
ˈprin-ˌses,
 (usually British)  prin-ˈses
1
archaic : a woman having sovereign power
2
: a female member of a royal family
especially : a daughter or granddaughter of a sovereign
3
: the consort of a prince
4
: one likened to a princess
especially : a woman of high rank or of high standing in her class or profession
a pop music princess

princess

2 of 2

adjective

prin·​cess ˈprin(t)-səs How to pronounce princess (audio)
ˈprin-ˌses,
 (usually British)  prin-ˈses
variants or princesse
: close-fitting and usually with gores from neck to flaring hemline
a princess gown

Examples of princess in a Sentence

Noun She's just a stuck-up princess. as the reigning princess of pop music, she exerts an enormous influence over teens
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
For his part, Mohamed al-Fayed blamed the deaths of the princess and his son on a conspiracy — plotted by Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband, and intelligence services — to prevent a Muslim from becoming stepfather to the future British king. Karla Adam, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023 The best part about being a princess has got to be the tiaras, right? Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 22 Nov. 2023 Juliet enters the church looking like some kind of Aryan virgin princess. Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 21 Nov. 2023 Thank you for all who made this special day happen and the beautiful princesses who tended to our guests! Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 20 Nov. 2023 The camera then cut to the princess in the bathroom, retching. Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2023 In another scene, the flush of young love between boy Orlando and a Russian princess is performed by two trans male teenagers who include testimony of their own healing, real-life bond. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023 While wardrobe played a role in Diana’s resilience, there was one sartorial shield that seemed to protect the princess while in the spotlight: her sunglasses. Megan O'Sullivan, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023 Photographers followed Diana relentlessly throughout her time in Paris, preventing the princess and Dodi from enjoying dinner at the Chez Benoit bistro. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Nov. 2023
Adjective
On his Instagram Stories, Martin also shared a mid-flight selfie from an airplane seat, holding a princess doll and looking out the window. Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023 Davis also designed the dress and coat for Moore’s daughter, Mia, who appeared at the inauguration in a princess-style blue dress with a matching coat and knit hat with pompoms. Maya Lora, Baltimore Sun, 28 Feb. 2023 Prince Harry was clubbing in Boujis at the weekend and Kate Middleton (pre-princess era) was stepping out in beautiful designer dresses and going rollerblading for charity — and so the royal beat became part of my job. Monique Jessen, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2022 Opt for the classic version, featuring an array of stories from beloved Disney and Pixar characters; try the Disney princess-specific calendar; or grab the Marvel edition. Annie Burdick, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2022 Actress Paige Hurd celebrated a milestone birthday over the weekend, entering her 30’s in princess fashion with a grand bash in Los Angeles. Rivea Ruff, Essence, 22 July 2022 The looks so far have included a sleek strapless Versace gown, a princess-style Chanel piece and a minimalist Gucci gown. Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 28 May 2022 Consider this the princess version of a naked dress. ELLE, 4 Apr. 2022 And John Carter, with its strange land, smart and feisty princess, loyal animal companion, noble group of underdogs, and its mysterious and villainous wizards, was another fairy tale. Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'princess.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French princesse princess, from prince

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of princess was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near princess

Cite this Entry

“Princess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/princess. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

princess

noun
prin·​cess
ˈprin(t)-səs,
ˈprin-ˌses,
prin-ˈses
1
: a daughter or granddaughter of a monarch : a female member of a royal family
2
: the wife of a prince

More from Merriam-Webster on princess

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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