palace

The word “palace” means the official residence of a monarch, head of state, or other high-ranking figure. In plain terms, a grand official residence, or loosely, any exceptionally lavish building.

“Palace” is pronounced PAL-ihs (/ˈpæl.ɪs/ in IPA).

Here is “palace” used in a sentence: “Tourists lined up outside the palace to watch the changing of the guard.”

“Palace” is a noun.

The word “palace” comes from Latin. From Old French palais, from Latin palatium, named after the Palatine Hill in Rome where Roman emperors built their grand residences.

“Palace” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Palace” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the official residence of a monarch, head of state, or other high-ranking figure.

A castle is built primarily for defence, with thick walls, towers, and battlements to withstand attack. A palace is built for comfort and grandeur as a residence, with no serious military purpose. Some royal homes began as fortified castles and were later rebuilt or extended into luxurious palaces.

A mansion is simply a very large, grand private house. A palace is grander still and carries official status — the residence of a monarch, head of state, bishop, or similar high-ranking figure. Every palace is a kind of grand residence, but not every large house qualifies as a palace.

Famous examples include Buckingham Palace in London, the official royal residence; the Palace of Versailles in France; and the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. The word can also appear in grand public buildings, such as a 'palace of justice' or an old cinema fondly known as a 'picture palace.'

Palaces are usually named by their occupant or role: royal palaces house monarchs, presidential palaces house heads of state, and episcopal palaces house bishops. Historically there were also summer and winter palaces used seasonally. The common thread is an official residence built on a grand, imposing scale.