prince
Pluralprinces
Pluralprinces
Formsprinces, princing, princed
- 1A son, grandson, or other male relative of a king or queen who does not rule.
Like the children and grandchildren of a king, who are special but do not make the rules.
The young prince waved to the crowd from the palace balcony.
Both princes attended their grandmother's birthday celebration.
- 2A man who rules a small country called a principality.
Like the mayor of a town, but for a very small country.
The prince of Monaco opened the new harbor.
A wealthy prince ruled the tiny mountain state for decades.
UsageWrite Prince Rainier with a capital, but the prince without one.
Similarsovereign, ruler, monarch
Note
- 3Any king or ruler of a country, used mostly when writing about history. It was once even used for a ruling queen.
If Henry does not fully trust him, is it surprising? A prince is alone: in his council chamber, in his bedchamber, and finally in Hell's antechamber, stripped – as Harry Percy said – for Judgment.
2009, Hilary Mantel, Wolf HallHere, prince means a king or ruler of a country.Note
- 4A high noble title in some countries, given to important lords who are not kings.
Like a very powerful lord who is almost like a small king, but not quite.
In the old German empire, a prince could be a great noble without being royal.
Several princes of the empire met to choose a new emperor.
Note
- 5A person who is the best or most important in what they do.
Like calling someone a star player because they are the best on the team.
He was a prince among chefs, admired by everyone in the kitchen.
Critics called him a prince of the theater for his brilliant performances.
UsageSay a prince among men or a prince of a field.
Similarmaster, giant, king, titan, luminary
Note
Less common meanings
- 6To behave in a grand, noble way, as a royal son would.
The Roofes of Palaces, and Nature prompts them / In ſimple and lowe things, to Prince it, much / Beyond the tricke of others.
1611, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”Here, prince it means to behave in a grand, noble way.Similarstrut, swagger, parade, sweep
Note
- 7To change a person into a prince, as in a fairy tale.
All I could remember is the chorus, and something about pumpkins turning into princesses (???!) and frogs turning into princes. I figured she meant the frog was John before she princed him.
2005, abe slaney, “Question re John Lennon's Death”Here, princed means changed someone into a prince, as in a fairy tale.Note
- 8A picture card in some tarot decks that takes the place of the knight card.
- 9A large mushroom you can eat, with a brown, scaly cap and a smell like almonds.
- 10A kind of dark forest butterfly found in parts of Asia.
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origin
From Latin prīnceps, meaning "first, foremost," made from prīmus ("first") and capiō ("seize, take"). It came into English through French.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- Prince ultimately derives from Latin prīnceps. en.wikipedia.org
- Prīnceps means "first, foremost"; its second element means "catcher", not "head". en.wiktionary.org
- Prīnceps is formed from prīmus, meaning "first", and capiō, meaning "seize, take". simple.wiktionary.org
- Prince entered English through French. en.wikipedia.org