English Reference

Word

palais

US/pəˈɫeɪ/

UK/pˈæleɪ/

Definition

n. a very large and impressive house or palace. It is a French word that people in English-speaking countries use to describe a grand building.

n. a large, impressive house or palace. Borrowed from French, it is used in English to describe grand architectural structures, often in a historical or formal context.

Examples

“The royal family lives in a beautiful palais in the city center.”

“The tour guide led us through the grand halls of the palais, showing us the original royal apartments.”

“The architect's design for the new cultural palais was inspired by the classical symmetry of the French palaces of the eighteenth century.”

Examples

simple

“The royal family lives in a beautiful palais in the city center.”

contextual

“The tour guide led us through the grand halls of the palais, showing us the original royal apartments.”

complex

“The architect's design for the new cultural palais was inspired by the classical symmetry of the French palaces of the eighteenth century.”

Real-World Examples

“The coalition announced a nationwide mobilisation for September 15, with demonstrations in Kinshasa expected to converge on the Palais du Peuple, the seat of parliament.”
Al Jazeera · 25 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference