regal

¹ American  

[ree-guhl] / ˈri gəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a king; royal.

   the regal power.

2. befitting or resembling a king.

3. stately; splendid.

   Antonyms:

   base

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regal ² American  

[ree-guhl] / ˈri gəl /

noun

1. a portable reed organ of the 16th and 17th centuries.

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regal ¹ British  

/ ˈriːɡəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or befitting a king or queen; royal

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regal ² British  

/ ˈriːɡəl /

noun

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

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Usage

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.

Related Words

See kingly.

Other Word Forms

• regally adverb
• regalness noun

Etymology

Origin of regal¹

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

Origin of regal²

First recorded in 1540–50; Middle French regale, further origin uncertain

Example Sentences

Jessie Buckley, the favorite to win the best actress Oscar for her portrayal of William Shakespeare's grief-stricken wife in "Hamnet," looked regal in a red Chanel off-the-shoulder bodice and flowing pink ball skirt.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

We don’t really know who Isidora was: We can surmise that she was, most likely, the wife of a man of means, of high but not regal status.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor left Windsor not with a regal fanfare, but with the chug of removal lorries, heading for Norfolk in the night.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

For instance, a pair of jewel-toned beetles she picked up made an ideal centerpiece for a regal bib necklace.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2025

Everything about Miss New Jersey is regal, but not in a conceited, uppity, stank way.

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles