prince

IPA/prɪns/
KK[prˈɪns]IPA/prɪns/

prince — noun

  • princesingular
  • princesplural

1. a boy or man whose father or grandfather is a king or queen, making him an impor

1.nounB1
Definition

a boy or man whose father or grandfather is a king or queen, making him an important member of the royal family

Example

Christopher, the king's eldest son, will one day rule the country as its prince.

title + name as a subject

The young prince waved to the crowd from the palace balcony.

Common collocations
  • crown prince
  • prince consort
  • prince charming
Synonyms
  • royal

    broader term for any member of a royal family, not limited to male children of the monarch

  • heir

    focuses on the right to inherit the throne, not just being a royal family member

Antonyms
  • princess

    female equivalent in the same royal family

Grammar Patterns

the prince

Prince + [name]

Usage Note

Often used as a title before a name, e.g. Prince William. The feminine equivalent is princess.

Common Mistakes

She is a prince of the royal family.
She is a princess of the royal family.
prince is the male form; the female title is princess.

2. a male leader in charge of a territory smaller than a full kingdom, such as a pr

2.nounB2
Definition

a male leader in charge of a territory smaller than a full kingdom, such as a principality or duchy

Example

Lakshmi, the prince of a small coastal state, signed a trade agreement with neighbouring countries.

prince of [place] for a ruler

The prince governed the territory fairly, building roads and schools for his people.

Common collocations
  • ruling prince
  • prince of Monaco
  • sovereign prince
Synonyms
  • ruler

    more general term for someone who governs a territory

  • sovereign

    emphasises independent authority over a territory

Antonyms
  • subject

    a person who lives under the prince's rule

Grammar Patterns

the prince of [place]

Prince of [country]

Usage Note

The territory ruled by this kind of prince is called a principality. This sense is distinct from sense 1 — here the prince is the actual ruler, not just a family member.

Common Mistakes

The prince ruled over the kingdom for thirty years.
The prince ruled over the principality for thirty years.
a prince in this sense rules a principality, not a kingdom (which is ruled by a king or queen).

3. the most accomplished person in a particular activity, profession, or art form,

3.nounC1
Definition

the most accomplished person in a particular activity, profession, or art form, greatly admired for skill

Example

Chef Élise is known as the prince of French cuisine in her home country.

prince of [domain] for an expert

Music critics called Christopher the prince of jazz piano after his final concert.

Common collocations
  • prince of comedy
  • undisputed prince
  • prince of pop
Synonyms
  • master

    emphasises complete command of a skill rather than public recognition

  • champion

    suggests competition and victory rather than general excellence

  • genius

    focuses on natural talent rather than earned reputation

Grammar Patterns

prince of [domain]

the prince of [genre]

Usage Note

Always used figuratively rather than literally. Commonly follows the pattern 'prince of + domain' (e.g., prince of comedy, prince of pop).

Common Mistakes

He is a literal prince in the music industry.
He is regarded as the prince of the music industry.
this sense is figurative and metaphorical, not a formal title.

4. a high-ranking male aristocrat in several European nations, whose title places h

4.nounB2
Definition

a high-ranking male aristocrat in several European nations, whose title places him below a king within the noble social class

Example

Esme inherited a castle in the French countryside after her father, the prince, passed away.

The prince attended a formal dinner at the royal palace in Vienna.

prince as a noble attending formal events

Common collocations
  • titled prince
  • hereditary prince
  • prince of the Holy Roman Empire
Synonyms
  • nobleman

    broader term for any male aristocrat; does not specify the exact rank

  • lord

    more general title for a landowning aristocrat in British contexts

Antonyms
  • commoner

    someone not born into a noble or aristocratic family

Grammar Patterns

the prince of [place]

Prince [name]

Usage Note

Used mainly in historical contexts describing European countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and Russia. The exact rank varies by country — in some nations a prince outranks a duke, while in others the reverse is true.

Common Mistakes

The French prince ruled the entire country as its king.
The French prince was a wealthy nobleman who owned vast lands but was not the monarch.
in this sense a prince is a titled noble, not the ruler of a whole country.

Word family

  • princess
    nounA2
  • princely
    adjectiveB2
  • principality
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Prince refers to a male member of a royal family, especially the son of a monarch. Crown prince is a more specific title for the person who is first in line to inherit the throne — every crown prince is a prince, but not every prince is a crown prince. Heir is a broader legal term for anyone entitled to inherit the throne, regardless of gender or familial relationship; a daughter, a niece, or a cousin could be the heir without being called a prince. Royal can be used as an adjective or a noun covering any member of a royal family, male or female. For example: Prince Harry is a prince but not the crown prince; his older brother William is both. The queen's eldest granddaughter might be the heir to the throne but is referred to as a princess, not a prince.

prince ↗crown princeheir ↗royal ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • prince and princess
  • prince of Wales
  • live like a prince

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word prince comes from Latin princeps, meaning 'first citizen' or 'chief leader', formed by combining primus ('first') and capere ('to take'). It passed into Old French as prince and then into Middle English. Originally it referred to any ruler or leader, but over time it narrowed to mean a male member of a royal family or a noble title.