princess

American  

[prin-sis, -ses, prin-ses] / ˈprɪn sɪs, -sɛs, prɪnˈsɛs /

noun

1. a nonreigning female member of a royal family.

2. History/Historical. a female sovereign or monarch; queen.

3. the consort of a prince.

4. (in Great Britain) a daughter or granddaughter (if the child of a son) of a king or queen.

5. a woman considered to have the qualities or characteristics of a princess.

---

adjective

1. Also princesse. (of a woman's dress, coat, or the like) styled with a close-fitting bodice and flared skirt, cut in single pieces, as gores, from shoulder to hem.

princess British  

/ prɪnˈsɛs /

noun

1. (in Britain) a daughter of the sovereign or of one of the sovereign's sons

2. a nonreigning female member of a sovereign family

3. the wife and consort of a prince

4. any very attractive or outstanding woman

5. Also called: princess dress.   princess line.  a style of dress with a fitted bodice and an A-line skirt that is shaped by seams from shoulder to hem without a seam at the waistline

---

Gender

See -ess.

Other Word Forms

• princesslike
  adjective
• princessly
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of princess

1350–1400; Middle English princesse < Middle French. See prince, -ess

Explanation

A princess is the daughter of a king or queen, or the wife of a prince. Some children like to have princess parties because they get to wear fancy dresses, tiaras, and little plastic high heels. In countries that are monarchies, rulers are born into their positions and are typically called kings and queens. If they have a daughter, she’s a princess. Women who marry into these families can also become princesses. The popular image of a princess might be Cinderella dressed for the ball, but modern princesses look a lot more like ordinary people. Princess is the feminine form of prince, from the Latin princeps, "chief leader."

Example Sentences

"The princess is very much looking forward to visiting Italy next week," said a Kensington Palace spokesman, about her milestone return to international visits.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

Thousands of fans have gathered in the California desert for the hotly anticipated Coachella Festival, which kicks off Friday with pop princess Sabrina Carpenter in the headliner spotlight.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Much like Peach in the first “Super Mario Bros.” video game, Daisy was the princess players were trying to rescue.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

On Monday Chloe's family released a tribute to their "beautiful princess", who lived in Gomersal in Kirklees, about 17 miles from Austhorpe.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

“You’re going to help us first. I’ll let you go when you agree to free the princess there.”

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

Related Words

• czar
• emperor
• king
• monarch
• shah
• sultan