prince
prihns
Prince (noun) means a male member of a royal family, especially the son or grandson of a monarch. Example: “The young prince was taught to ride and to speak several languages.”
noun
1
A male member of a royal family, especially the son or grandson of a monarch.
"The young prince was taught to ride and to speak several languages."
"In the fairy tale, a prince searches the kingdom for the missing princess."
"The prince waved to the crowd from the palace balcony."
2
A person considered outstanding or supreme in a particular field.
"In some respects the intellectual is indeed closer to the philosopher than to any specialist, and the philosopher is in more than one sense a sort of prince among the intellectuals."
— F. A. Hayek, The Intellectuals and Socialism (1949)
"The old chef was known as the prince of French cooking."
"Many fans regarded him as the prince of the football pitch."
"He is a prince among men."
"He was hailed as the prince of jazz guitarists."
How to use prince
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA male royal below the rank of king — or, figuratively, someone who's the best at what they do.
Common pairings
crown prince
prince charming
prince among men
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Word forms
- Plural
- princes
- Third person singular
- princes
- Past tense
- princed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The young _____ was taught to ride and to speak several languages.
Etymology
From Latin prīnceps, "first head," from prīmus ("first") plus capiō ("to seize, take").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for prince
See all rhymes for prince →Frequently asked questions
What does “prince” mean?
The word “prince” means a male member of a royal family, especially the son or grandson of a monarch. In plain terms, a male royal below the rank of king — or, figuratively, someone who's the best at what they do.
How do you pronounce “prince”?
“Prince” is pronounced prihns (/pɹɪns/ in IPA).
How do you use “prince” in a sentence?
Here is “prince” used in a sentence: “The prince waved to the crowd from the palace balcony.”
What part of speech is “prince”?
“Prince” is a noun.
Where does the word “prince” come from?
The word “prince” comes from Latin. From Latin prīnceps, "first head," from prīmus ("first") plus capiō ("to seize, take").
Is “prince” a common word?
“Prince” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “prince” have?
“Prince” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a male member of a royal family, especially the son or grandson of a monarch.
What is the difference between a prince and a king?
A king is the reigning male monarch, the head of a royal family and often of a country. A prince is usually his son, grandson, or another male relative, ranking below him. A prince may become king when he inherits the throne, but until then he holds the lesser title.
What is the female equivalent of a prince?
A "princess" is the female counterpart — a daughter or granddaughter of a monarch, or the wife of a prince. Just as a prince is typically the son of a king or queen, a princess is the daughter, and either may stand in line to the throne.
What is the difference between a prince and a duke?
Both are titles, but a prince ranks higher and belongs to the royal family, usually as the child or grandchild of a monarch. A duke holds the highest rank of nobility below prince and may or may not be royal. One person can hold both, as a prince also created a duke.
Can a prince become king?
Yes. A prince who is heir to the throne becomes king when the reigning monarch dies or abdicates, the prince first in line being the direct successor. Not every prince inherits, though — only the one highest in the order of succession takes the crown.
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