prince

1 of 2

noun (1)

Synonyms of princenext
1
a
b
: the ruler of a principality or state
2
: a male member of a royal family
especially : a son of the sovereign
3
: a nobleman of varying rank and status
4
: one likened to a prince
especially : a man of high rank or of high standing in his class or profession
princeship noun

princeship

2 of 2

noun (2)

prince·​ship ˈprin(t)sˌship How to pronounce princeship (audio)
-nˌsh-
1
: the dignity or position of a prince
2
: the period during which a prince (as an heir apparent) is such

Examples of prince in a Sentence

Noun (1) a neighborhood in which the city's merchant princes built palaces that shamelessly celebrated their wealth
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 prince has credited childhood visits to homeless shelters with Diana for his commitment to the issue. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 2 July 2026 With nanny Olga Powell and mom Diana, the young princes enjoyed an open-sleigh ride in Lech, Austria, on March 30, 1993. Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 The prince of parody music has spoken, as Weird Al Yankovic draws a line in the sand over AI. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 July 2026 Bates declared himself and his wife, Joan, prince and princess of the new country, respectively. Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for prince

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin princip-, princeps leader, initiator, from primus first + capere to take — more at heave entry 1

Noun (2)

prince + -ship

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of prince was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Prince.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prince. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

prince

noun
1
2
: a son or grandson of a monarch : a male member of a royal family
3
: a nobleman of very high rank
4
: a person of high standing in his class or profession
Etymology

Noun

Middle English prince "ruler, king," from early French prince (same meaning), from Latin princip-, princeps "leader, initiator," literally, "one who takes the first part," from primus "first" and capere "to take" — related to prime

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