What does "princess" mean?
A female member of a royal family other than a queen, especially a daughter or granddaughter of a monarch.
Princess
/ˈpɹɪnsɛs/ name, noun
name, noun ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A female member of a royal family other than a queen, especially a daughter or granddaughter of a monarch.
- Grammar: princess is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: archetypal heroine, begum, cinderella, crown princess.
- Useful contrasts: antihero, antiheroine, commoner.
- Usage evidence: Unsure of which suitor she wanted to marry, the princess vacillated, saying now one, now the other.
How to use "princess"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "princess" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "princess" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "princess" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "princess" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "princess" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "archetypal heroine" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "princess", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A female member of a royal family other than a queen, especially a daughter or granddaughter of a monarch.
"She did not cry long, however, for she was as brave as could be expected of a princess of her age."
- 2 The title of a princess.
"Having been at the center of an international tragedy, the general public view is that the next generation—Princes William and Harry, and also Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice—have suffered enough and deserve every moment of happiness coming their way, and people are more than willing to help them celebrate their successes."
- 3 a female member of a royal family other than the queen (especially the daughter of a sovereign) wordnet
- 4 A woman or girl who excels in a given field or class.
"Michael Jackson was the king of pop. Britney Spears was the pop princess. Until they weren't."
- 5 A female ruler or monarch; a queen. archaic
"And running all with greedie ioyfulnesse / To faire Irena, at her feet did fall, / And her adored with due humblenesse, / As their true Liege and Princesse naturall […]"
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 The wife of a prince; the female ruler of a principality.
"Princess Grace was the Princess of Monaco."
- 7 A young girl; used as a term of endearment.
- 8 A young girl or woman (or less commonly a man) who is vain, spoiled, or selfish; a prima donna. US, derogatory
"Jonathan, if you hear this, you're a beautiful princess, but you're also a big, fat dork."
- 9 A tinted crystal marble used in children's games.
- 10 A type of court card in the Tarot pack, coming between the 10 and the prince (Jack).
- 11 A female lemur.
- 12 A Bulgarian open-faced baked sandwich prepared with ground meat.
- 13 A fairy chess piece which combines the moves of the bishop and the knight.
Proper Noun
- 1 A female given name from English. rare
"It was funny to me that my name, Princess Kasune Zulu, became such a big deal on this trip. I participated in a number of media interviews where journalists fixated on my name. "Are you a real princess?" they asked time and time again. Their published articles all too often said, "Princess is only her name, not a title.""
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Unsure of which suitor she wanted to marry, the princess vacillated, saying now one, now the other."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "princess"?
Common synonyms include: archetypal heroine, begum, cinderella, crown princess, czarina, empress.
How do you use "princess" in a sentence?
Unsure of which suitor she wanted to marry, the princess vacillated, saying now one, now the other.
How do you pronounce "princess"?
Pronounced /ˈpɹɪnsɛs/.
Etymology
From Middle English princesse, a borrowing from Anglo-Norman princesse, Old French princesse. By surface analysis, prince + -ess.