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
When Rear Window star Kelly married Prince Rainier in April 1956, the world watched the two-day affair that turned one of Hollywood's most stunning beauties into an actual princess. Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026 The book is described in promotional materials as providing vivid portraits of the lives of her mother, Farah Arvand, and her grandmother, princess Ashraf Palavi, sister of the last shah of Iran. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 17 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 21 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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