royal

[roi-uhl]

adjective

1. of or relating to a king, queen, or other sovereign.

   royal power; a royal palace.

2. descended from or related to a king or line of kings.

   a royal prince.

3. noting or having the rank of a king or queen.

4. established or chartered by or existing under the patronage of a sovereign.

   a royal society.

5. (initial capital letter),  serving or subject to a king, queen, or other sovereign.

6. proceeding from or performed by a sovereign.

   a royal warrant.

7. appropriate to or befitting a sovereign; magnificent; stately.

   royal splendor.

   Synonyms: majestic
   Antonyms: servile

8. (usually initial capital letter),  in the service of the monarch or of the Commonwealth.

   Royal Marines; Royal Air Force.

9. fine; excellent.

   in royal spirits.

10. Informal.,  extreme or persistent; unmitigated.

    a royal nuisance; a royal pain.

noun

1. Nautical.,  a sail set on a royal mast.

2. Informal.,  a royal person; member of the royalty.

3. Chiefly British.,  Usually royals. a member of England's royal family.

4. a size of printing paper, 20 × 25 inches (51 × 64 centimeters).

5. a size of writing paper, 19 × 24 inches (48 × 61 centimeters).

6. Numismatics.,  any of various former coins, as the real or ryal.

royal

/ ˈrɔɪəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or befitting a king, queen, or other monarch; regal

2. (prenominal; often capital) established, chartered by, under the patronage or in the service of royalty

   the Royal Society of St George

3. being a member of a royal family

4. above the usual or normal in standing, size, quality, etc

5. informal,  unusually good or impressive; first-rate

6. nautical just above the topgallant (in the phrase royal mast )

noun

1. informal,  (sometimes capital) a member of a royal family

2. Also called: royal stag. a stag with antlers having 12 or more branches

3. nautical a sail set next above the topgallant, on a royal mast

4. a size of printing paper, 20 by 25 inches

5. Also called: small royal. a size of writing paper, 19 by 24 inches

6. any of various book sizes, esp 6 1/ 4 by 10 inches ( royal octavo ), 6 3/ 4 by 10 1/ 4 inches ( super royal octavo ), and (chiefly Brit) 10 by 12 1/ 2 inches ( royal quarto ) and 10 1/ 4 by 13 1/ 2 inches ( super royal quarto )

Other Word Forms

• royally adverb
• antiroyal adjective
• nonroyal adjective
• nonroyally adverb
• preroyal adjective
• preroyally adverb
• pseudoroyal adjective
• pseudoroyally adverb
• quasi-royal adjective
• quasi-royally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of royal¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin rēgālis “kingly,” equivalent to rēg- (stem of rēx ) “king” + -ālis adjective suffix; regal ¹, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of royal¹

C14: from Old French roial , from Latin rēgālis , fit for a king, from rēx king; compare _regal ¹

Synonym Study

See kingly.

Example Sentences

Its discovery helps researchers pinpoint when ancient Egyptians began burying their royals in the Valley of the Kings—after Thutmose II’s death.

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The vessels are glazed a deep, glossy royal blue.

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With his Amazon documentary, the King will be the latest royal to appear on a streaming service.

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The Spitting Image TV show, which lampooned celebrities, politicians and royals, was a huge hit for ITV when it first ran in the 1980s and 1990s.

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To be awarded posthumously, a relative must attend Buckingham Palace, where the King or another royal presents the medal in person.

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Related Words

• aristocratic 
• dignified 
• illustrious 
• imperial 
• magnificent 
• noble 
• stately