royal

1 of 2

adjective

roy·​al ˈrȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce royal (audio)
1
a
: of kingly ancestry
the royal family
b
: of, relating to, or subject to the crown
the royal estates
c
: being in the crown's service
Royal Air Force
2
a
: suitable for royalty : magnificent
b
: requiring no exertion : easy
there is no royal road to logicJustus Buchler
3
a
: of superior size, magnitude, or quality
a patronage of royal dimensionsJ. H. Plumb
often used as an intensive
a royal pain
b
: established or chartered by the crown
4
: of, relating to, or being a part (such as a mast, sail, or yard) next above the topgallant

royal

2 of 2

noun

1
: a person of royal blood
2
: a small sail on the royal mast immediately above the topgallant sail
3
: a stag of 8 years or more having antlers with at least 12 points

Examples of royal in a Sentence

Adjective They received a royal welcome as they stepped off the plane. the school superintendent received a royal welcome Noun magazine stories about the private lives of royals
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The anime series The Apothecary Diaries is a story about Maomao, a young woman assigned as food tester in the inner palace who solves difficult cases that occur in the royal court. Billboard Japan, Billboard, 27 Nov. 2023 According to the listing, the royal family made frequent visits to the abode during this time. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 27 Nov. 2023 Related: The Best Times to Visit Copenhagen for Great Weather, Lower Prices, and Fewer Crowds Rosenberg Castle Have a picnic in the King’s Garden after seeing the noontime changing of the guard at Amalienborg Palace, the fall and winter home of the Danish royal family. Sunshine Flint, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2023 The machines that changed history, revisiting a royal murder, American cinema’s biggest decade and more. ‘Nuts & Bolts’ Review: The Levers That Move the World The making of machines has been a central part of the human story. Wsj Books Staff, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023 William and Kate have been regular royal guests of honor at the variety show and last attended in Nov. 2021. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023 Read More: Tree Rings Hint at the Fall of the Hittite Empire The Cuneiform Tablets of Hattusa Today, all that's still standing in Hattusa are some of city's temples, royal residences, and fortifications, including the ruins of the Great Temple, dedicated to the god Teshub and the goddess Arinna. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023 Across London, royal tributes included gun salutes and the ringing of the Westminster Abbey bells. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 14 Nov. 2023 The show’s sixth season will be its last telling the story of Queen Elizabeth II and Britain’s royal family in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Nov. 2023
Noun
In its 195 years, a handsome masonry mansion on Governor Nicholls Street in New Orleans has played host to a fair share of notable characters, including Hollywood royals Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 28 Nov. 2023 Since stepping back as senior working royals in 2020, Meghan and Harry have launched their nonprofit, The Archewell Foundation, which currently includes the business verticals Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023 The event brought together some of the most notable modern royals and young socialites and philanthropists from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the U.S.—all dressed in extravagant gowns, each to match their own personal style. Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2023 From dressing the royals to dressing your home's walls, this elegant material is making a return in fashion and interiors alike. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Nov. 2023 While the series has in the past treated various prime ministers as characters with equal narrative weight to most of the royals, Blair is an afterthought here. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2023 The fifth season treated Mohamed’s desperation to ingratiate himself with the royals as a sad but understandable flaw. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 16 Nov. 2023 The duality of Diana is part of the late royal’s enduring appeal, argue the pair who found the process of imagining her wardrobe endlessly fascinating. Alice Newbold, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023 Corrin played the beloved royal for just one season, which spanned 1979 through 1990, before passing off the role. Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'royal.' 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

Middle English roial, from Anglo-French real, roial, from Latin regalis, from reg-, rex king; akin to Old Irish (genitive rīg) king, Sanskrit rājan, Latin regere to rule — more at right

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near royal

Cite this Entry

“Royal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/royal. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

royal

adjective
roy·​al
ˈrȯi(-ə)l
1
: of or relating to a sovereign : regal
2
: fit for a king or queen
a royal welcome
royally
ˈrȯi-ə-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on royal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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