majesty
noun
regal, lofty, or stately dignity; imposing character; grandeur.
majesty
American
[maj-uh-stee]
/ ˈmædʒ ə sti /
noun
-
majesties
plural
-
regal, lofty, or stately dignity; imposing character; grandeur.
majesty of bearing; the majesty of Chartres.
-
supreme greatness or authority; sovereignty.
All paid tribute to the majesty of Rome.
-
(usually initial capital letter) a title used when speaking of or to a sovereign (usually preceded by his, her, oryour ).
His Majesty's Navy; Will your Majesty hear our petitions?
-
a royal personage, or royal personages collectively.
The royal wedding was attended by the majesties of Europe.
-
Christ in Majesty, a representation of Christ as ruler of the universe.
majesty
1
British
/ ˈmædʒɪstɪ /
noun
-
great dignity of bearing; loftiness; grandeur
-
supreme power or authority
-
an archaic word for royalty
Majesty
2
British
/ ˈmædʒɪstɪ /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of majesty
1250–1300; Middle English majeste < Middle French < Latin majestāt- (stem of majestās ) dignity, grandeur, equivalent to majes- (akin to majus < *mag-yos, neuter comparative of magnus large; cf. major) + -tāt- -ty 2
Explanation
Majesty describes a quality that takes your breath away, it's so impressive. The Grand Canyon has it, and so does a British monarch (supposedly). The word majesty brings to mind a luxurious castle, which is appropriate because it is also used to address or refer to a king or queen. The Latin root word is maiestatem, which means "greatness, dignity, or excellence," and people first used the noun majesty to talk about God. It was England's King Henry VIII who decided that majesty would be the official way to address a British monarch.
Vocabulary lists containing majesty
Words from the 4th of July Songbook
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Quartering Act (1765)
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The Skin I'm In
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But in the muscular outer movements of the Brahms, only a sense of might without majesty lingered.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
That was an era during which Springsteen was fond of declaring “the majesty, the mystery, the ministry — of rock ‘n’ roll!”
From Salon ● May 28, 2026
These long, winding, canal-like tunnels, big enough for boats, are nothing short of the subterranean answer to the city’s boulevards, with an unexpected, if somewhat infernal, majesty.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 10, 2026
He holds fast to what he knows to be true: the majesty of his own goodness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2026
He was almost paralyzed with fear when he was led into the great receiving hall and saw Caesar seated in majesty on a gilded thronelike chain.
From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks
The palace spokesperson told reporters the king's visit, from October 27 to November 4, would not "shy away from the 'darkest days of our past' as His Majesty has described them".
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
He said the decision to withdraw from the games was "in order not to be construed as being opposed to His Majesty King Charles III".
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Her Majesty had donated a box of books to Spellow Library in Liverpool after it was burned down in widespread unrest in the summer of 2024 following the Southport attack in which three children died.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026
The Sussexes needed a “brand refresh,” says Ingrid Seward, editor in chief of Majesty Magazine, noting that the couple’s efforts to build a media empire in Hollywood have run out of steam.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
I’d been walking around thinking that our new house was big and grand to the point of being over the top, but then in April I went to England and met Her Majesty the Queen.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
And then there are places whose majesties remain largely unknown to the masses — until they end up on TikTok.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2023
"We are delighted too that its first use will be to guide their majesties into Westminster Abbey at the Coronation Service."
From Reuters ● Apr. 19, 2023
When they arrive in the city, their majesties will be met at the Great West Doors of the cathedral by the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell and the Dean of York Dominic Barrington.
From BBC ● Apr. 6, 2023
The floral-themed invite for the event, which is due to take place at London’s Westminster Abbey on May 6, promotes “the coronation of their majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla.”
From Washington Post ● Apr. 5, 2023
It shows the silhouette of a girl at sunset, running up a steep mountain path, and it’s all clouds parting and God rays shining down and purple mountain majesties.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
