princess

1 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms of princess

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The mortal princess, Psyche, and the god of love, Eros, pioneered the romantic drama. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026 Wax said the show bridges the Disney brand of princesses and castles. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Rice invited her to arrive in costume and incorporated the princess appearance into the celebration. — Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026 The film turns the princess tale into a passage across medieval fantasy, retro-futurist sci-fi and the present day. — Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for princess

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Princess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/princess. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster