# highness

/ˈhaɪnəs/ (US) · /hˈaɪnəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/highness
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. royal title

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a title of respect used when speaking to or about a prince or princess.

For teachers: a formal title of address or reference for a prince, princess, or other high-ranking royal. Usually preceded by 'His', 'Her', or 'Your'.

- The ambassador bowed low when he was introduced to Her Royal Highness.
- The protocol officer reminded the visiting dignitaries that they should address the princess as Your Royal Highness during the formal reception.

### 2. state of being high

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

the quality of being high or tall.

For teachers: the state or quality of being high; the physical property of elevation or height.

- The highness of the mountain peaks made them difficult to climb.
- The sheer highness of the ceiling in the cathedral created an impressive sense of space and light.

### 3. title for a king

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

an old title for a king or queen, used in the past before 'Majesty' became common.

For teachers: a historical style of address for a monarch, now largely superseded by 'Majesty'.

- In the old documents, the king was referred to as His Highness.
- Historical records from the Tudor period show that the king was often addressed as Your Highness before the term Your Majesty became standard.

## Examples

- Her Royal Highness will arrive at the ceremony at noon.
- The ambassador bowed deeply and addressed the prince as 'Your Highness' during the formal introduction.
- Protocol dictates that one should wait for His Highness to initiate conversation rather than speaking first during a formal audience at the palace.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.