royal

1 of 2

adjective

roy·​al ˈrȯi(-ə)l 

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 logic

—Justus Buchler

3

a

: of superior size, magnitude, or quality

a patronage of royal dimensions

—J. 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

Synonyms

Adjective

• regal
• aristocratic

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 next step is the report stage, then the third reading of the bill in the House of Commons, before moving to a final consideration of amendments and royal assent. —Matt Slater, New York Times, 22 June 2025

King Charles also shared a birthday tribute to Prince William on behalf of the royal family on his Instagram Stories. —Simon Perry, People.com, 21 June 2025

Noun

The post-pandemic influx of celebrities and royals, as well as local restaurant openings that look more like red carpet events, have catapulted the small, unincorporated town of fewer than 10,000 people into the real estate stratosphere, while much of Southern California stagnates. —Alexandria Abramian, HollywoodReporter, 21 June 2025

The social media posts came at the end of an intensely busy time for the royals, full of public events. —Simon Perry, People.com, 21 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English roial, from Anglo-French real, roial, from Latin regalis, from reg-, rex king; akin to Old Irish rī (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

Phrases Containing royal

• anti-royal
• battle royal
• coffee royal
• of royal descent
• presidential/royal pardon
• rhyme royal
• royal antler
• royal blue
• royal decree
• royal flush
• royal icing
• royal jelly
• royal palm
• royal poinciana
• royal purple
• the royal treatment
• the royal we

Rhymes for royal

• loyal
• disloyal
• pennyroyal

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