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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Quartering Act (1765)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Skin I'm In
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
His approach was unique; he took the grandeur and majesty of the Duke Ellington Orchestra sax section, updated that sound, and infused it with bluesy grit and a gruff, avant-garde crankiness.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 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
Behind stand the columns, echoed in vertical majesty by the thick tree trunks rising behind them on the other side of the park wall.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
“I love the majesty and structure of the white sage,” he says, pointing out the dried branches he leaves for the birds.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026
His heart soared and he paddled toward her, marveling at her size and majesty.
From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook
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
Amid all the noise, one oasis of calm at Journal House was Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, the U.N.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 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
"Eventually Her Majesty said, 'oh for goodness sake, just go'. So I ran through to the library and I was watching it."
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
"By my counsel," said Lucy, "your Majesty shall give him another trial. Let him go free on strait promise of fair dealing in the future. It may be that he will keep his word."
From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis
Buckingham Palace in October said "their majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been and will remain with the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse".
From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026
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
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
"The will said, Sing in praise of this generous land. The will said, May God thy gold refine. America, Angela, America! Purple mountain majesties, Angela. Whoopee!"
From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin
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.
