What does "royal" mean?
A royal person; a member of a royal family.
Royal
/ˈɹɔɪ.əl/ adj, name, noun, slang
adj, name, noun, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A royal person; a member of a royal family.
- Grammar: royal is listed as adj, name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: advantageous, angevine, anointed king, aristocratic.
- Useful contrasts: colorless, common, commoner.
- Usage evidence: With the heirless king going crazy and royal family poisoned, the general of the army finally had his chance to usurp the throne.
How to use "royal"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "royal" 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 "royal" 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 "royal" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "royal" 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 "royal" is acting as adj, name, noun, slang 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 "advantageous" 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 "royal", 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 royal person; a member of a royal family. capitalized, informal, often
"Andy noted in RAIL 462: "The Royals are bound to have a great say in the decoration of the train and it speaks volumes for their regard for it that there are so many portraits of previous Royal Trains and items presented on trips. I sense they're extremely fond of it.""
- 2 someone connected with Reading Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.
- 3 A member of the first regiment of foot in the British army. UK, historical
- 4 stag with antlers of 12 or more branches wordnet
- 5 A standard size of printing paper, measuring 25 by 20 inches.
Show 12 more definitions
- 6 a sail set next above the topgallant on a royal mast wordnet
- 7 A standard size of writing paper, measuring 24 by 19 inches.
- 8 The Australian decimal currency intended to replace the pound in 1966; was changed to "dollar" before it was actually circulated. dated
- 9 Any of various lycaenid butterflies.
- 10 The fourth tine of an antler's beam.
- 11 A stag with twelve points (six on each antler).
- 12 In large sailing ships, square sail over the topgallant sail.
"in ten days after we spoke the Solon, so rapid was his recovery, that, from lying helpless and almost hopeless in his berth, he was at the mast-heId, furling a royal."
- 13 An old English gold coin, the rial.
- 14 A small mortar.
- 15 In auction bridge, a royal spade.
- 16 A tuft of beard on the lower lip.
- 17 Bell changes rung on ten bells.
Adjective
- 1 Of or relating to a monarch or his (or her) family.
"He tried to persuade Cicely to stay away from the ball-room for a fourth dance. […] But she said she must go back, and when they joined the crowd again her partner was haled off with a frightened look to the royal circle, […]"
- 2 Alternative form of royal (in capitalised proper nouns, e.g. Royal Navy, Royal Mail) alt-of, alternative
- 3 Having the air or demeanour of a monarch; illustrious; magnanimous; of more than common size or excellence.
"How doth that royal Merchant good Anthonio;"
- 4 In large sailing ships, of a mast right above the topgallant mast and its sails.
"royal mast; royal sail"
- 5 Free-for-all, especially involving multiple combatants.
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 Used as an intensifier. informal
"a royal pain in the neck"
- 7 Describing a piece which, if captured, results in loss of game.
"Maharajah and the Sepoys pits a single royal amazon for white against a standard chess army for black."
Adjective
- 1 invested with royal power as symbolized by a crown wordnet
- 2 belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler wordnet
- 3 being of the rank of a monarch wordnet
- 4 of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch wordnet
- 5 established or chartered or authorized by royalty wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from Old English.
- 2 A male given name from the word "royal".
- 3 A male given name from English from the surname
"Royal - he had been his mother's little king. Most of his mates called him "Roy". Perhaps only her and Mrs Natwick had stuck to the christened name, they felt it suited."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"With the heirless king going crazy and royal family poisoned, the general of the army finally had his chance to usurp the throne."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "royal"?
Common synonyms include: advantageous, angevine, anointed king, aristocratic, august, auspicious.
How do you use "royal" in a sentence?
With the heirless king going crazy and royal family poisoned, the general of the army finally had his chance to usurp the throne.
How do you pronounce "royal"?
Pronounced /ˈɹɔɪ.əl/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English royal, from Old French roial (Modern French royal), from Latin rēgālis, from rēx (“king”). Doublet of regal (“befitting a king”), real (“unit of currency”), ariary, and riyal. Cognate with Spanish real. Displaced native Old English cynelīċ.
Etymology 2
A habitational surname, shaped by folk etymology, from places in England, Riehale, Righale, Ryhill and Ryall, Old English ryge (“rye”) + hyll (“hill”), and Royle, rā (“roe”) + hyll (“hill”).
Etymology 3
Capitalization of royal.