# Roy

/ˈɹɔɪ/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. a king

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

an old word for a king.

For teachers: a monarch or king. This sense is archaic and typically found in historical or poetic contexts.

- In the old stories, the roy ruled over the valley with a kind heart.
- The ancient chronicles describe the roy as a figure of immense gravity, whose word was law across the northern territories.

Usage: Usually functions as a singular countable noun in literary prose.

### 2. royal

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

an old word meaning royal or related to a king.

For teachers: pertaining to a monarch; royal. This adjectival use is restricted to archaic or highly stylised literary registers.

- The knight bowed low before the roy family.
- The poet spoke of roy bloodlines that had remained unbroken since the founding of the first city-state.

Usage: Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun.

## Examples

- The author is a roy who receives ten percent of every sale.
- As the primary roy on the patent, she receives a substantial payment every time the technology is licensed to a new manufacturer.
- The contract specifies that each roy must be paid within thirty days of the quarterly audit to ensure transparency in the distribution of digital streaming profits.

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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.