royalty
n. C / Un. the members of a king or queen's family. It can also mean the money paid to an author or musician every time someone buys their work.
n. members of a royal family collectively; also refers to a payment made to a legal owner for the use of property, especially intellectual property. In its financial sense, it is often used in the plural.
The local people gathered to see the visiting royalty.
The author receives a small royalty for every copy of the book sold in bookstores.
While the nation maintains a deep respect for its traditional royalty, modern political discourse often focuses on the economic impact of the royal family's public duties.
From Middle English royaltee, roialtee, royalte, from Old French roialté, roiauté, realté (compare earlier Old French realted (“realm, kingdom”)), from Vulgar Latin *rēgālitās, from Latin rēgālis, equivalent to royal + -ty. Doublet of regality.
Uncountable when referring to the social class of kings and queens; countable when referring to specific payments made to creators.