royal

1 of 2

adjective

roy·​al ˈrȯi(-ə)l 

1

a

: of kingly ancestry

the royal family

b

: of, relating to, or subject to the crown

the royal estates

c

: being in the crown's service

Royal Air Force

2

a

: suitable for royalty : magnificent

b

: requiring no exertion : easy

there is no royal road to logic

—Justus Buchler

3

a

: of superior size, magnitude, or quality

a patronage of royal dimensions

—J. H. Plumb

—often used as an intensive

a royal pain

b

: established or chartered by the crown

4

: of, relating to, or being a part (such as a mast, sail, or yard) next above the topgallant

royal

2 of 2

noun

1

: a person of royal blood

2

: a small sail on the royal mast immediately above the topgallant sail

3

: a stag of 8 years or more having antlers with at least 12 points

Synonyms

Adjective

• kingly
• monarchal
• monarchial
• monarchical
• monarchic
• princely
• queenly
• regal

Examples of royal in a Sentence

Adjective

They received a royal welcome as they stepped off the plane.

the school superintendent received a royal welcome

Noun

magazine stories about the private lives of royals

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

For those intrigued by royal Christmas menus past, Parker Bowles’s Cooking and the Crown, published this year, dives into the history of royal tastes. —Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024

Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

Noun

Many heritage royal warrant holders are keeping up with the latest ESG regulations. —Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 19 Dec. 2024

Step inside the royals' holiday traditions with PEOPLE’s Special Edition: Christmas at the Palace: A Royal Family Album. —Janine Henni, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English roial, from Anglo-French real, roial, from Latin regalis, from reg-, rex king; akin to Old Irish rī (genitive rīg) king, Sanskrit rājan, Latin regere to rule — more at right

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing royal

• anti-royal
• battle royal
• coffee royal
• of royal descent
• presidential/royal pardon
• rhyme royal
• royal antler
• royal blue
• royal decree
• royal flush
• royal icing
• royal jelly
• royal palm
• royal poinciana
• royal purple
• the royal treatment
• the royal we

Kids Definition

royal

adjective

roy·​al

ˈrȯi(-ə)l

1

: of or relating to a sovereign : regal

2

: fit for a king or queen

a royal welcome

royally

ˈrȯi-ə-lē

adverb