prince

¹

[ prins ]

noun

1. a nonreigning male member of a royal family.
2. History/Historical. a sovereign or monarch; king.
3. (in Great Britain) a son or grandson (if the child of a son) of a king or queen.
4. the English equivalent of any of various titles of nobility in other countries.
5. a holder of such a title.
6. the ruler of a small state, as one actually or nominally subordinate to a suzerain:

   Monaco is ruled by a prince.

7. a person or thing that is chief or preeminent in any class, group, etc.:

   a merchant prince.

8. a person possessing admirably fine and genial characteristics:

   He is a prince of a man.

Prince

²

[ prins ]

noun

1. Har·old S(mith) [har, -, uh, ld , smith], Hal, 1928–2019, U.S. stage director and producer.
2. Prince Rogers Nelson, 1958–2016, U.S. singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
3. a male given name.

Prince

¹

/ prɪns /

noun

1. Prince1958MUSMUSIC: rock singerMUSIC: songwriterMUSIC: record producer full name Prince Rogers Nelson. born 1958, US rock singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist. His albums include Dirty Mind (1981), Purple Rain (1984), Parade (1986), and Sign o' the Times (1987)

prince

²

/ prɪns /

noun

1. (in Britain) a son of the sovereign or of one of the sovereign's sons
2. a nonreigning male member of a sovereign family
3. the monarch of a small territory, such as Monaco, usually called a principality, that was at some time subordinate to an emperor or king
4. any sovereign; monarch
5. a nobleman in various countries, such as Italy and Germany
6. an outstanding member of a specified group

   a merchant prince

7. informal.
   a generous and charming man

Derived Forms

• ˈprinceˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• princeless adjective
• princeship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of prince¹

1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Latin prīncip- (stem of prīnceps ) first, principal (adj.), principal person, leader (noun), equivalent to prīn- for prīmus prime + -cep- (combining form of capere to take) + -s nominative singular ending

Word History and Origins

Origin of prince¹

C13: via Old French from Latin princeps first man, ruler, chief

Example Sentences

The prince plays the part of a nervous customer as he faces the prospect of getting a first tattoo from US singer Jelly Roll.

From BBC

Mr Høiby's residence at Skaugum, close to where the crown prince and his wife live, has also been searched by police.

From BBC

Both cases are expected to go to trial in January 2025, with the 40-year-old prince alleging journalists and private investigators working for NGN - which also published the now defunct News of the World - targeted him.

From BBC

The carol service is supported by the Royal Foundation, the charity which supports the work of the prince and princess.

From BBC

The crown prince has never forgiven or forgotten Biden saying that Saudi Arabia needed to be made a pariah for its attitude to human rights.

From BBC