principality
Americannoun
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principalities
plural
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a state ruled by a prince, usually a relatively small state or a state that falls within a larger state such as an empire.
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the position or authority of a prince or chief ruler; sovereignty; supreme power.
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the rule of a prince of a small or subordinate state.
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British. the Principality, Wales.
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Theology. principalities,
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an order of angels.
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supramundane powers often in conflict with God. Ephesians 6:12.
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Obsolete. preeminence.
noun
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a territory ruled by a prince
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a territory from which a prince draws his title
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the dignity or authority of a prince
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of principality
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English principalite, from Old French, from Late Latin prīncipālitās “first place, superiority” ( Medieval Latin: “authority or territory of a prince”). See principal, -ity
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.
See Examples For:
"This is the first time in history, to my knowledge, that such an act has taken place in the principality," Mirmand, the head of Monaco's government, said.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
Yes, you can enjoy the principality of Monaco, with its casinos, yachts and Grand Prix, without a princely budget.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026
Japan's Takumi Minamino scored the only goal of the game for Monaco in the principality -- the former Liverpool player's second-half strike inflicting a second domestic defeat of the campaign on PSG.
From Barron's ● Nov. 29, 2025
His last post was "geotagged" to a hilltop overlooking Roquebrune-Cap-Martin between the principality and the town of Menton.
From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2023
Faerie, after all, is not one land, one principality or dominion.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
It's not like I'm engaging the devil left and right against principalities and powers all over the place.”
From Salon ● Jan. 2, 2024
"Districts of the capital are not separate principalities where you can walk around in white gloves and neglect your duties," he said, adding that he would not tolerate "sabotage".
From Reuters ● Jun. 2, 2023
Under increasing pressure from foreign invaders, India splintered into rival principalities ruled by independent rajas, or princes.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023
“There is absolutely nothing you or any of the other powers and principalities can do to stop us.”
From New York Times ● Jul. 8, 2022
Therefore, these princes of ours who have ruled their principalities for many years and who have subsequently lost them should not blame Fortune, but rather their own indolence.
From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli
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.
