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
Even during this swoony quasi-courtship, the cracks in Elvis’ Prince Charming veneer are all too apparent.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2023
One version will be traditional - with a female Cinderella being swept off her feet by her Prince Charming.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2023
In modern romance fashion — the villain turns out to be the boy, not Prince Charming.
From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2023
I guess you could call what I just got home from a “ball”—we all dressed up, I got to eat dinner with more silverware than I probably own, and I met Prince Charming.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
![]()
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.