1
a
b
: the ruler of a principality or state
2
: a male member of a royal family
especially : a son of the sovereign
3
: a nobleman of varying rank and status
4
: one likened to a prince
especially : a man of high rank or of high standing in his class or profession
princeship noun

Examples of prince in a Sentence

a neighborhood in which the city's merchant princes built palaces that shamelessly celebrated their wealth
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The mayor added that having the prince visit was a boost to the area. Simon Perry, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024 Abdulaziz was sentenced to five years in prison—a severe punishment for a prince. Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 Representatives for the Saudi Public Investment Fund and the crown prince did not respond to requests for comment. Giacomo Tognini, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024 The show pitches the prince's project as an effort to continue his mother Princess Diana's legacy by trying to eradicate homelessness and featured footage from his childhood of mother and son working to help those less fortunate than themselves. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prince 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin princip-, princeps leader, initiator, from primus first + capere to take — more at heave entry 1

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of prince was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near prince

Cite this Entry

“Prince.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prince. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

prince

noun
1
2
: a son or grandson of a monarch : a male member of a royal family
3
: a nobleman of very high rank
4
: a person of high standing in his class or profession
Etymology

Middle English prince "ruler, king," from early French prince (same meaning), from Latin princip-, princeps "leader, initiator," literally, "one who takes the first part," from primus "first" and capere "to take" — related to prime

More from Merriam-Webster on prince

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