regality

American  

[ri-gal-i-tee] / rɪˈgæl ɪ ti /

noun

• regalities
  plural

1. royalty, sovereignty, or kingship.

2. a right or privilege pertaining to a sovereign.

3. a kingdom.

4. (in Scotland)

   1. territorial jurisdiction of a royal nature formerly conferred by the sovereign.

   2. a territory subject to such jurisdiction.

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regality British  

/ riːˈɡælɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or condition of being royal; kingship or queenship; royalty

2. the rights or privileges of royalty

3. history

   1. jurisdiction conferred by the sovereign on a powerful subject

   2. a territory under such jurisdiction

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• regalities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of regality

1375–1425; late Middle English regalite < Middle French < Medieval Latin rēgālitās. See regal ¹, -ity

Explanation

The word regality is used for the state of being a monarch — or resembling one. The regality of your queenly cat, calmly looking down on the chaos of your new puppy, is indisputable. Long ago, it was common to use the word regality to describe the position of being a queen or king: "Elizabeth II entered the regality in 1952." These days, it's more commonly used in a figurative way, for things or people that resemble royalty. If you're staying at a magnificent castle for the weekend, you might walk in and observe, "Wow, this place is full of regality!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

regality regalities

Her regality is on display in “Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style,” the largest-ever exhibition of clothing worn by the monarch, who died at age 96 in September 2022.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026

Among the standout pieces was a thick, charcoal pleated coat that offered a nod to traditional Asian dress, its regality underscored by its robust structure and generous drape.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 22, 2023

Presciently, Frances came to be known as “Princess Fannie,” for her regality and charm.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 24, 2023

Win or lose, “Ducks” is still a better name than the nondescript, aspirational “Los Angeles Kings,” a name that owner Jack Kent Cooke supposedly believed gave an air of regality to his team.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2022

There was the love I had for the mute regality of tall, moss-clad oaks.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

The scene of his regalities, his sick room, which was his presence chamber, where he lay and acted his despotic fancies—how is it reduced to a common bedroom!

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 2 Elia and The Last Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb

What intelligence she had was occupied with her regalities, and although sweet in spite of her hauteur, and unselfish notwithstanding her good-fortune, as a companion she would mean little to any man.

From The Bell in the Fog and Other Stories by Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton

If she made them feel their insignificance for a moment they would fly to the standard of her rival, Valencia Menendez, and her regalities would be gone forever.

From The Doomswoman An Historical Romance of Old California by Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton

But such great "regalities" were, after all, exceptional.

From The History of England From the Accession of Henry III. to the Death of Edward III. (1216-1377) by William Hunt

The approach of foreign traders was prohibited, while the regalities reserved by the crown drained the country of a great proportion of its wealth.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 4 "Bradford, William" to "Brequigny, Louis" by Various