royal
ROY-uhl
Royal (adjective) means belonging to, or connected with, a king, queen, or their family. Example: “The royal couple opened the new children's hospital this morning.”
adjective
1
Belonging to, or connected with, a king, queen, or their family.
"The royal couple opened the new children's hospital this morning."
"The royal family waved from the palace balcony."
"She was given a royal welcome when she arrived."
2
Grand, dignified, or splendid, in a way that recalls a monarch.
"They put on a royal feast to celebrate the wedding."
"He gave a royal performance in the final match."
"The hotel gave us a royal welcome with flowers and music."
noun
1
A member of a royal family.
"Crowds gathered outside the church hoping to catch a glimpse of a royal."
"Several European royals attended the state funeral."
"The tabloids love photographing the young royals on holiday."
How to use royal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with kings and queens, or grand and impressive in the way royalty is.
Common mistake
Don't mix up with "loyal" (faithful) — they're spelled similarly but mean very different things.
Common pairings
royal family
royal wedding
royal welcome
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Word forms
- Plural
- royals
- Comparative
- royaler, royaller
- Superlative
- royalest, royallest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ couple opened the new children's hospital this morning.
Etymology
From Old French roial, itself from Latin rēgālis, "of a king" — the same Latin root that gives us "regal" and "real" (as in the old Spanish coin).
Synonyms
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Rhymes for royal
See all rhymes for royal →Frequently asked questions
What does “royal” mean?
The word “royal” means belonging to, or connected with, a king, queen, or their family. In plain terms, to do with kings and queens, or grand and impressive in the way royalty is.
How do you pronounce “royal”?
“Royal” is pronounced ROY-uhl (/ˈɹɔɪ̯.əl/ in IPA).
How do you use “royal” in a sentence?
Here is “royal” used in a sentence: “The royal family waved from the palace balcony.”
What is another word for “royal”?
Words with a similar meaning to “royal” include major.
What part of speech is “royal”?
Depending on how it is used, “royal” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “royal” come from?
The word “royal” comes from Latin. From Old French roial, itself from Latin rēgālis, "of a king" — the same Latin root that gives us "regal" and "real" (as in the old Spanish coin).
Is “royal” a common word?
“Royal” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “royal” have?
“Royal” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: belonging to, or connected with, a king, queen, or their family.
What is the difference between royal and regal?
Royal means belonging to or connected with a monarch or their family, so it describes an actual relationship, as in 'the royal palace'. Regal means resembling a monarch in grandeur or dignity, so it describes a quality anyone can have, as in 'a regal posture'. Royals are royal; impressive people can look regal.
What is the difference between royal and loyal?
Despite the rhyme, these words are unrelated. Royal means connected with a king, queen, or their family. Loyal means faithful and steadfast in supporting a person, group, or cause. A royal family is part of a monarchy; a loyal friend simply stands by you. The similar spelling is coincidental.
What is an example of royal?
Royal describes anything tied to a monarch or their household. Examples include the royal family, a royal wedding, the royal palace, and a royal decree. It also appears in official titles and institutions, such as the Royal Navy or Royal Mail, where it signals a formal link to the crown.
Does royal always relate to a king or queen?
In its core sense, yes: royal connects something to a monarch or their family. It is also used more loosely to mean splendid or first-rate, as in 'a royal welcome' or 'a right royal feast'. Even then, the sense of grandeur borrows from the idea of how monarchs are treated.
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