adj
Common
imperial
ihm-PEER-ree-uhl
Imperial (adj) means relating to an empire, or to an emperor or empress. Example: “The museum has a fine collection of imperial robes and jewels.”
adj
1
Relating to an empire, or to an emperor or empress.
"The museum has a fine collection of imperial robes and jewels."
"The imperial palace once housed the entire royal court."
"Historians study the rise and fall of imperial Rome."
2
Relating to the traditional British system of measurement (as opposed to metric).
"My grandfather still weighs his flour in imperial pounds and ounces."
"Road signs here show distances in imperial miles, not kilometres."
"The recipe still uses imperial units like pints and ounces."
3
Grand, majestic, or of superior size and quality.
"The tall columns gave the building an imperial look."
"He walked into the ballroom with an imperial air of confidence."
"The hotel lobby had an imperial grandeur to it."
noun
1
An oversized wine bottle holding about six litres, roughly eight times a standard bottle.
"The wine merchant keeps a single imperial on display behind the counter."
"It takes two people to lift and pour an imperial safely."
"They opened an imperial of Bordeaux for the anniversary."
How to use imperial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with an empire or emperor, or (informally) something impressively large or grand — also the name of the old UK measurement system.
UK vs US
The UK largely switched to metric, but imperial units (miles, pints, pounds) are still common in everyday British speech.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
imperial system
imperial rule
imperial stout
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Word forms
- Plural
- imperials
- Comparative
- more imperial
- Superlative
- most imperial
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The museum has a fine collection of _____ robes and jewels.
Etymology
From Latin imperialis ("of the empire or emperor"), from imperium ("command, empire").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for imperial
See all rhymes for imperial →Frequently asked questions
What does “imperial” mean?
The word “imperial” means relating to an empire, or to an emperor or empress. In plain terms, to do with an empire or emperor, or (informally) something impressively large or grand — also the name of the old UK measurement system.
How do you pronounce “imperial”?
“Imperial” is pronounced ihm-PEER-ree-uhl (/ɪmˈpɪɹ.i.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “imperial” in a sentence?
Here is “imperial” used in a sentence: “The imperial palace once housed the entire royal court.”
What is another word for “imperial”?
Words with a similar meaning to “imperial” include in old money.
What part of speech is “imperial”?
Depending on how it is used, “imperial” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “imperial” come from?
The word “imperial” comes from Latin. From Latin imperialis ("of the empire or emperor"), from imperium ("command, empire").
Is “imperial” a common word?
“Imperial” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “imperial” have?
“Imperial” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to an empire, or to an emperor or empress.
What is the difference between imperial and metric units?
Imperial units are the traditional British system of measurement, including inches, feet, pounds, and pints. Metric units, such as meters, kilograms, and liters, are based on powers of ten. Most of the world uses metric, while imperial units persist in some everyday British and American use.
What is the difference between 'imperial' and 'royal'?
'Imperial' relates to an empire, or to an emperor or empress who rules it. 'Royal' relates to a king or queen and their kingdom. An empire is typically larger and may contain several kingdoms or territories.
Are US customary units the same as imperial units?
They are closely related and share many names, such as the gallon, pint, and ounce, but some measures differ in size. For example, a US gallon is smaller than an imperial gallon, so the two systems are not identical.
Is 'imperial' capitalized?
As a general adjective, imperial is written in lowercase, as in 'imperial measurements' or 'imperial power.' It is capitalized only when part of a proper name, such as a museum, palace, or brand that includes the word.
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