Prince Charming
Americannoun
-
(sometimes lowercase) a man who embodies a woman's romantic ideal.
-
a man who avidly seeks the attention and affections of women; ladies' man.
Etymology
Origin of Prince Charming
1840–50; on the pattern of earlier King Charming, ultimately translation (with word order unchanged) of French Roi Charmant, the hero of a fairy tale by the Comtesse Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy (circa 1650–1705)
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.
“When the time calls for me to be Prince Charming, I’m Prince Charming,” he said, laughing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Every fairytale needs a happy ending, and after 11 albums of love, heartbreak and shattered dreams, Taylor Swift has found her Prince Charming.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2025
Prince Charming speaks his truth with the same gravity that Kevin Costner used to muster when he rhapsodized over cowboy life on “Yellowstone,” a show Costner claimed he loved but not enough to stay.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2024
In modern romance fashion — the villain turns out to be the boy, not Prince Charming.
From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2023
“He wasn’t perfect or anything. He wasn’t your fairytale Prince Charming or whatever. He tried to be like that sometimes, but I liked him best when that stuff fell away.”
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
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.
