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
variants or princesse
: 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 choice of tailoring, constructed from the designer’s signature stretch-accommodating cady fabric, afforded the princess enough freedom of movement to get hands-on with the young children and families gathered in the nursery environments of the university’s early years education department. Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 7 May 2026 Number one pick Azzi Fudd (the reigning people’s princess of women’s basketball) glided her way through the night in three different looks and officially joined the Dallas Wings, the team that her partner, Paige Bueckers, also happens to play for, in a delightful twist. Yohana Desta, Vanity Fair, 7 May 2026
Adjective
Dalton and Bhaskaran left the edges rough and frayed along the hem and through the cutaway sections, keeping the dress from reading as straight princess fantasy despite the color and scale. Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 16 May 2026 Ventura frequently praises Fine’s parenting on social media, sharing peeks into his girl-dad duties — which include everything from princess dress-up sessions and Spice Girls dance parties to skating lessons and tropical family vacations, per her Instagram. Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 13 May 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 17 May. 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

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