palatial
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
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.
To meet the strong demand from the wealthiest customers, Caesars just remodeled its two palatial presidential suites and 29 “sky villas” that start at $1,500 a night for a one-bedroom.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Just before the Scotland news conference at their palatial Charlotte base camp, three Norwegian reporters fetched up in search of Scottish retaliatory thunder.
From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026
Four hotels in France, including the Byblos in Saint-Tropez, have lost their palatial status since the last list was published in 2019.
From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026
It also maintained the building’s relatively humble footprint, an explicit contrast with the palatial dwellings of European monarchs.
From Slate ● May 18, 2026
I was absorbed in the tale of a renowned scientist who had rigged up a mystery room made of metal in the basement of his palatial home.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
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.
