# princess

/ˈpɹɪnsɛs/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. royal family member

noun · CEFR A2

a female member of a royal family, especially the daughter of a king or queen.

For teachers: a female member of a royal family, most commonly the daughter or granddaughter of a reigning monarch.

- The princess waved to the crowds from the balcony of the palace.
- Historical accounts suggest the princess played a significant role in diplomatic negotiations, despite her lack of official executive power.

### 2. wife of a prince

noun · CEFR B1

the wife of a prince or the female ruler of a small country called a principality.

For teachers: the consort of a prince or a female sovereign who rules a principality in her own right.

- She became a princess after marrying the king's eldest son.
- Upon her marriage into the reigning house, she was formally granted the title of princess and assumed various charitable patronages.

### 3. spoiled person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · American English

a girl or woman who acts like she is more important than others or expects to be treated perfectly.

For teachers: a derogatory term for a person perceived as vain, entitled, or demanding special treatment.

- Stop acting like such a princess and help us clean up the kitchen.
- The director complained that the lead actor was being a total princess, demanding a specific brand of mineral water and a private trailer.

### 4. term of endearment

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a sweet name used for a young girl by her parents or family.

For teachers: a term of endearment used by adults when addressing a young girl.

- Goodnight, my little princess, sleep well.
- He often referred to his youngest daughter as his princess, a habit that continued well into her teenage years.

## Examples

- The princess waved to the crowd from the balcony.
- After the king died, the princess took on more official duties to support her mother.
- Historical accounts suggest the princess exercised significant political influence behind the scenes, despite having no formal seat on the royal council.

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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.