# prince

/ˈpɹɪns/ (US) · /pɹˈɪns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prince
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. royal family member

noun · CEFR A2

a male member of a royal family, especially the son or grandson of a king or queen.

For teachers: a male member of a royal house; specifically, the son or grandson of a reigning monarch.

- The young prince waved to the crowds from the palace balcony.
- Following the coronation, the prince assumed several ceremonial duties to represent the crown at international diplomatic events.

### 2. ruler of a small state

noun · CEFR B2

the male ruler of a small country or area called a principality.

For teachers: the male sovereign or head of a principality, such as Monaco or Liechtenstein.

- The prince of the small nation signed a new trade agreement.
- As the reigning prince, he holds significant executive powers that differ from the purely symbolic roles of other European royals.

### 3. preeminent person

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a man who is considered the best or most important person in a particular group or profession.

For teachers: a person who is preeminent or outstanding within a specific field or social circle.

- He was known as the prince of poets during the nineteenth century.
- The obituary described the late cellist as a prince among musicians, noting his unparalleled influence on modern classical performance.

### 4. historical ruler

noun · CEFR C1 · Archaic · Formal

a general word for a king or male ruler in older history books.

For teachers: a general term for a male sovereign or monarch, regardless of the specific title held.

- The old book discusses the duties a prince has toward his people.
- Machiavelli’s political treatise examines the methods by which a prince may acquire and maintain political power in a volatile state.

### 5. to act like a prince

verb · CEFR C2 · Humorous · Informal

to behave in a very proud or royal way, often when you do not have the right to.

For teachers: to behave with the bearing, pride, or perceived entitlement of a prince.

- He spent the whole weekend princing it around the hotel like he owned the place.
- After receiving his promotion, he began princing about the office, delegating even the smallest tasks to his former peers.

## Examples

- The prince will one day become the king.
- The young prince spent years studying history and law to prepare for his future duties as a leader.
- While the prince held no formal political power in the modern government, he remained a significant cultural figurehead who represented the nation at international events.

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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.