princess

[ prin-sis, -ses, prin-ses ]

noun

1. a nonreigning female member of a royal family.
2. History/Historical. a female sovereign or monarch; queen.
3. the consort of a prince.
4. (in Great Britain) a daughter or granddaughter (if the child of a son) of a king or queen.
5. a woman considered to have the qualities or characteristics of a princess.

adjective

1. Also princesse. (of a woman's dress, coat, or the like) styled with a close-fitting bodice and flared skirt, cut in single pieces, as gores, from shoulder to hem.

princess

/ prɪnˈsɛs /

noun

1. (in Britain) a daughter of the sovereign or of one of the sovereign's sons
2. a nonreigning female member of a sovereign family
3. the wife and consort of a prince
4. any very attractive or outstanding woman
5. Also calledprincess dressprincess line a style of dress with a fitted bodice and an A-line skirt that is shaped by seams from shoulder to hem without a seam at the waistline

Gender Note

See -ess.

Other Words From

• princess·like adjective
• princess·ly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of princess¹

1350–1400; Middle English princesse < Middle French. See prince, -ess

Example Sentences

The journey through a magical and illogical land to rescue two princesses is sort of a 20th-century Pilgrim’s Progress — and may help you find your purpose too.

From Ozy

This update on the classic game of capitalism stars everyone’s favorite princess-rescuing plumber, Mario.

From Popular-Science

She must be a princess, they decide, and that is how they choose to raise her.

From Vox

That was the movie that led her, as a teenager, to start rethinking how she used to think about princesses.

From Freakonomics

If a show didn’t happen to have a princess in it, there probably weren’t many females.

From Freakonomics

And then that chorus kicks in, and the young lady formerly known as Lizzy Grant transforms into the princess of darkness.

From The Daily Beast

Were it not for them, nobody would have even built the brand new arena where Sarah saw a PRINCESS!

From The Daily Beast

Then he read the golden inscription and saw that she was a princess.

From The Daily Beast

Both heroines are women, but they offer a pretty bizarre dichotomy for girls: Ice queen or ditzy princess.

From The Daily Beast

Princess Ariel and Prince Eric walk down the aisle, and are greeted by a stout clergyman who is allegedly too happy to see them.

From The Daily Beast

The Princess still kept her eyes fixed on Louis, while, in a suppressed and unsteady voice, she answered her governess.

From Project Gutenberg

But first he held a whispered colloquy with the Princess, whom he entreated, or persuaded, to re-enter her gorgeous vehicle.

From Project Gutenberg

Louis listened with pleasure, and dwelt with delight on the interesting Princess and her son.

From Project Gutenberg

The Princess was pale and thin; and, though dressed superbly, seemed fitter for her chamber.

From Project Gutenberg

Besides, I've read of such things in the Princess Novelettes; only there it's most generally lovers, not 'usbins, nor yet fathers.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• czar
• emperor
• king
• monarch
• shah
• sultan