highness
noun
the quality or state of being high; loftiness.
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his highness.
highness
American
[hahy-nis]
/ ˈhaɪ nɪs /
noun
-
highnesses
plural
-
the quality or state of being high; loftiness.
-
(initial capital letter) a title of honor given to members of a royal family (usually preceded by His, Her, Your, etc.).
Highness
1
British
/ ˈhaɪnɪs /
noun
highness
2
British
/ ˈhaɪnɪs /
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of highness
before 900; Middle English heyenes, Old English hēanes. See high, -ness
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:
In the letter Charles makes clear that the couple's position is "akin to private citizens" and that they should not be addressed as his and her royal highness.
From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026
“That was in large part engineered by his highness MBS in Saudi Arabia” and other Saudi officials, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 20, 2025
“I am available anytime to see you and His royal highness M.B.Z.,”
From New York Times ● May 22, 2022
At the field’s far end, Queen Elizabeth I herself makes an appearance for a ticketed afternoon tea service hosted by her royal highness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2022
‘All of those man-eating giants is enormous and very fierce! They is all at least two times my wideness and double my royal highness!’
From "The BFG" by Roald Dahl
The couple shouldn’t be referred to as His or Her Royal Highness, the letter said, adding it had published the guidance to “help avoid doubt or confusion.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
Harry's grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, stripped them of their "Royal Highness" titles, police protection and public funding when they quit as working monarchy members in 2020.
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
From Home Goods to His Royal Highness King Charles lll’s purveyor, 15 places Los Angeles designers say they shop for rugs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026
How Virginia Giuffre’s accusations of a decade ago finally brought His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Duke of York, down to simply Andrew.
From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2025
There was little choice, as Her Highness Rachel is above manual labor, and Ruth May beneath it so to speak, so Leah and I were considered by our mother, by default, disposed for her errands.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
"Having spent the last two Christmases at Sandringham, their royal highnesses will spend the holidays this year, as a new family, with the duchess' mother, Doria Ragland."
From Fox News ● Nov. 15, 2019
Last September, after Parliament failed to approve a bill that would amend the constitution and reduce their highnesses to just plain misters, she ordered the President of India, V.V.
From Time Magazine Archive
At last count, there were 72 princes and princesses of Liechtenstein, which is eleven more highnesses than there are square miles in the minuscule principality.
From Time Magazine Archive
Liechtenstein boasts 72 princes and princesses, which is eleven more highnesses than it has square miles.
From Time Magazine Archive
And the majesties and highnesses follow; the procession flows into the New Sacristy; here the cardinal-archbishop, Primate of Liparia, with all his mitred clergy, receives the bridegroom and the bride....
From Majesty A Novel by Louis Couperus
Definitions 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.
