palace

American  

[pal-is] / ˈpæl ɪs /

noun

1. the official residence of a king, queen, bishop, or other sovereign or exalted personage.

2. a large and stately mansion or building.

3. a large and usually ornate place for entertainment, exhibitions, etc.

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palace British  

/ ˈpælɪs /

noun

1. the official residence of a reigning monarch or member of a royal family

   Buckingham Palace

2. the official residence of various high-ranking church dignitaries or members of the nobility, as of an archbishop

3. a large and richly furnished building resembling a royal palace

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Other Word Forms

• palaced adjective
• palacelike adjective
• palaceward adverb

Etymology

Origin of palace

1200–50; Middle English < Medieval Latin palācium, spelling variant of palātium, Latin: generic use of Palātium name of the hill in Rome on which the emperor's palace was situated; replacing Middle English paleis < Old French ≪ Latin Palātium

Example Sentences

The Saudi military protects a nearby palace with air defenses including a Patriot system whose coverage extends to the Diplomatic Quarter, former U.S. defense officials said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

He has been held in a wing of the presidential palace in Niamey with his wife since the junta led by general Abdourahamane Tiani seized power in the west African country on July 26, 2023.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Special housing, whether on a military base, in a palace or sequestered in a guarded compound, is one such reward and inducement.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

The palace "welcomed" the invitation, but did not say whether Felipe had agreed to attend the football tournament, due to take place between 11 June and 19 July.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

In its original life, the Grand Dame had been built to resemble a palace straight from Andalusian Spain, a temple to theater.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Related Words

• dwelling
• hall
• mansion