English Reference
adjective · noun

royal

adj. · n.
US /ˈɹɔɪəɫ/ UK /ɹˈɔɪəl/ roy·al UK spelling royals

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    adj.connected with a king, queen, or their family.

    adj.of or relating to a monarch, their family, or the institution of the monarchy.

    Simple

    The royal family waved to the crowds from the balcony of the palace.

    In context

    The royal prerogative allows the monarch to exercise certain powers without the requirement of parliamentary consent.

    regalsovereignmonarchical
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.having the grand or impressive appearance of a king or queen.

    adj.possessing the demeanour or status of a monarch; illustrious or magnificent in scale.

    Simple

    The guests received a royal welcome with a red carpet and live music.

    In context

    The estate was maintained with royal excellence, featuring gardens that rivalled those of the national botanical society.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    adj.used to emphasize how big, complete, or annoying something is.

    adj.used as an intensifier to emphasize the degree of a quality, typically a negative one.

    Simple

    The whole situation was a royal pain from start to finish.

    In context

    The project turned into a royal mess after the lead developer resigned without leaving any documentation.

  4. 04 B1 Intermediate Informal

    n.a member of a king or queen's family.

    n.a member of a royal family; often used as a collective plural in media contexts.

    Simple

    The royals are expected to attend the charity event this evening.

    In context

    Public interest in the private lives of the royals remains a significant driver of tabloid sales in the United Kingdom.

  5. 05 C2 Proficiency Technical

    adj.related to a specific small sail high up on a large ship.

    adj.denoting a mast or sail located immediately above the topgallant mast.

    Simple

    The sailors climbed high into the rigging to set the royal sail.

    In context

    As the wind increased, the captain ordered the crew to furl the royals to prevent the masts from straining under the pressure.

  6. 06 C2 Proficiency Technical

    n.a specific large size of paper used for printing or writing.

    n.a standard size of printing paper (25 by 20 inches) or writing paper (24 by 19 inches).

    Simple

    The artist requested a sheet of royal paper for the large charcoal drawing.

    In context

    The manuscript was printed on high-quality royal stock to ensure the illustrations were reproduced with maximum clarity.

Usage royal family · royal society

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Very common
Updated