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regal

1
[ ree-guhl ]
/ ˈri gəl /
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See synonyms for: regal / regally on Thesaurus.com
adjective
of or relating to a king; royal: the regal power.
befitting or resembling a king.
stately; splendid.
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Origin of regal

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin rēgālis royal

synonym study for regal

2. See kingly.

OTHER WORDS FROM regal

re·gal·ly, adverbre·gal·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH regal

regal , regale, regalia

Words nearby regal

refutation, refutative, refute, reg, regain, regal, regale, regalia, regality, regal moth, Regan

Other definitions for regal (2 of 2)

regal2
[ ree-guhl ]
/ ˈri gəl /
noun
a portable reed organ of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Origin of regal

2
First recorded in 1540–50; Middle French regale, further origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT REGAL

What does regal mean?

Regal is of or relating to royalty, as in Because Elizabeth is the queen, she has regal powers that no one else has.

Regal also describes something thought to be fitting for or resembling a king or queen. A regal stance involves standing up straight, with your arms behind your back and your head held high.

Finally, regal can describe something stately and splendid. A regal coat would be one so fancy that only someone who was royalty would normally wear it.

Example: The regal ball is held in the palace every year and the whole royal family and all their advisors attend.

Where does regal come from?

The first records of the term regal come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin rēgālis, meaning “royal.”

People who are royalty are people who rule a country or other large area or are part of the family that rules. Often, as rulers they are excessively rich, living in luxury few others can afford. Anything regal would be fitting for this lifestyle. Used more casually, something regal is fit for royalty, through quality, culture, or value, even if royalty doesn’t actually use that thing.

Less commonly, a regal is a portable organ from the 1400s that uses brass reed pipes. Regals produce sound when the reeds vibrate, usually within a bellows. While not commonly used anymore, you may hear one played by early music ensembles.

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What are some other forms related to regal?

  • regally (adverb)
  • regalness (noun)
  • regality (noun)

What are some synonyms for regal?

What are some words that share a root or word element with regal? 

What are some words that often get used in discussing regal?

How is regal used in real life?

Regal is used to describe something the speaker thinks is stately or royal.

Try using regal!

Is regal used correctly in the following sentence?

With your ripped and dirty clothes, you certainly look regal.

Words related to regal

august, glorious, imposing, kingly, magnificent, majestic, monarchial, monarchical, noble, proud, queenly, resplendent, royal, sovereign, splendid, stately, sublime

How to use regal in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for regal (1 of 2)

regal1
/ (ˈriːɡəl) /
adjective
of, relating to, or befitting a king or queen; royal

Derived forms of regal

regally, adverb

Word Origin for regal

C14: from Latin rēgālis from rēx king

British Dictionary definitions for regal (2 of 2)

regal2
/ (ˈriːɡəl) /
noun
(sometimes plural) a portable organ equipped only with small reed pipes, popular from the 15th century and recently revived for modern performance

Word Origin for regal

C16: from French régale; of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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