royal

[roi-uhl]

adjective

1. of or relating to a king, queen, or other sovereign.

   royal power; a royal palace.

2. descended from or related to a king or line of kings.

   a royal prince.

3. noting or having the rank of a king or queen.

4. established or chartered by or existing under the patronage of a sovereign.

   a royal society.

5. (initial capital letter),  serving or subject to a king, queen, or other sovereign.

6. proceeding from or performed by a sovereign.

   a royal warrant.

7. appropriate to or befitting a sovereign; magnificent; stately.

   royal splendor.

   Synonyms: majestic
   Antonyms: servile

8. (usually initial capital letter),  in the service of the monarch or of the Commonwealth.

   Royal Marines; Royal Air Force.

9. fine; excellent.

   in royal spirits.

10. Informal.,  extreme or persistent; unmitigated.

    a royal nuisance; a royal pain.

noun

1. Nautical.,  a sail set on a royal mast.

2. Informal.,  a royal person; member of the royalty.

3. Chiefly British.,  Usually royals. a member of England's royal family.

4. a size of printing paper, 20 × 25 inches (51 × 64 centimeters).

5. a size of writing paper, 19 × 24 inches (48 × 61 centimeters).

6. Numismatics.,  any of various former coins, as the real or ryal.

royal

/ ˈrɔɪəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or befitting a king, queen, or other monarch; regal

2. (prenominal; often capital) established, chartered by, under the patronage or in the service of royalty

   the Royal Society of St George

3. being a member of a royal family

4. above the usual or normal in standing, size, quality, etc

5. informal,  unusually good or impressive; first-rate

6. nautical just above the topgallant (in the phrase royal mast )

noun

1. informal,  (sometimes capital) a member of a royal family

2. Also called: royal stag. a stag with antlers having 12 or more branches

3. nautical a sail set next above the topgallant, on a royal mast

4. a size of printing paper, 20 by 25 inches

5. Also called: small royal. a size of writing paper, 19 by 24 inches

6. any of various book sizes, esp 6 1/ 4 by 10 inches ( royal octavo ), 6 3/ 4 by 10 1/ 4 inches ( super royal octavo ), and (chiefly Brit) 10 by 12 1/ 2 inches ( royal quarto ) and 10 1/ 4 by 13 1/ 2 inches ( super royal quarto )

Other Word Forms

• royally adverb
• antiroyal adjective
• nonroyal adjective
• nonroyally adverb
• preroyal adjective
• preroyally adverb
• pseudoroyal adjective
• pseudoroyally adverb
• quasi-royal adjective
• quasi-royally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of royal¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin rēgālis “kingly,” equivalent to rēg- (stem of rēx ) “king” + -ālis adjective suffix; regal ¹, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of royal¹

C14: from Old French roial , from Latin rēgālis , fit for a king, from rēx king; compare _regal ¹

Synonym Study

See kingly.

Example Sentences

The royal palace said it "knew nothing about this video" and that "we do not understand what goals it pursues. And we do not see it as necessary or appropriate".

Read more on Barron's

Curtains that once graced the windows of a royal retreat have been turned into Christmas stockings to be auctioned for charity.

Read more on BBC

"I never liked the idea of the royal family film," she reportedly once said.

Read more on BBC

The artefacts are said to include a sculpture of a saint's head stolen from Malbork castle, a royal residence in northern Poland.

Read more on Barron's

This royal visit signals further intent from Prince William to establish what he has called "more empathetic leadership around the world" where humanitarian issues are concerned.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• aristocratic 
• dignified 
• illustrious 
• imperial 
• magnificent 
• noble 
• stately