palatial
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- palatially adverb
- palatialness noun
- unpalatial adjective
Etymology
Origin of palatial
Explanation
Knowing that the adjective palatial is derived from the same Latin word as palace gives you a good sense of its meaning: magnificent, reminiscent of a home fit for a king. The Palatine (Collis Palatium in Latin) is the center of Rome’s famed Seven Hills. Tradition holds that it was the location on which Romulus founded the city, and it became a prestigious site for powerful Romans—including emperors—to build large, lavish homes. Palatium made its way into every Romance language and beyond: it became palazzo in Italian, palacio in Spanish, and palast in German. Palace entered English via the Old French palais. Power, affluence, extravagance: these are the qualities that should come to mind when you encounter the word palatial.
Vocabulary lists containing palatial
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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"The Most Dangerous Game" by Richard Connell
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The Glass Castle
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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.
The entirety of the 10th floor is occupied by the palatial primary suite, which features its own spa-style bathroom, a sauna, a workout room, dual dressing rooms, as well as a private terrace.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026
But for now Carr is looking forward to settling in to his palatial new home, which has 17 bedrooms, 160 acres of land - and one other unique feature.
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026
Ukraine’s top negotiator, Rustem Umerov, has been a regular guest in Witkoff’s palatial Miami estate.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 10, 2025
In Lengel’s view, the addition’s palatial size and ornament is a poor fit for the executive mansion’s relative modesty.
From Slate • Aug. 5, 2025
You ride through one of the richest neighborhoods in Johannesburg, past palatial mansions and huge money.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
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.
