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 princesse. (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 called: princess dress.  princess 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 Word Forms

• princesslike adjective
• princessly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of princess¹

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

Example Sentences

Other times the princess would watch from her wheeled invalid chair as Penelope sewed.

Read more on Literature

Proof that Penelope is not a princess in disguise.

Read more on Literature

“A mysterious young princess, and the three true heirs —of course you’re much too young to be their mother, though I do see a resemblance.”

Read more on Literature

"I believe in restoring the dignity to the quiet, often invisible work of caring, of loving well, as we look to build a happier, healthier society," the princess told the Future Workforce Summit.

Read more on BBC

News of the princess's second pregnancy was announced by Buckingham Palace in October last year, and she gave birth to her second daughter Athena Elizabeth Rose in January.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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