princess

1 of 2

noun

prin·​cess ˈprin(t)-səs How to pronounce princess (audio)
ˈprin-ˌses,
 (usually British)  prin-ˈses
1
archaic : a woman having sovereign power
2
: a female member of a royal family
especially : a daughter or granddaughter of a sovereign
3
: the consort of a prince
4
: one likened to a princess
especially : a woman of high rank or of high standing in her class or profession
a pop music princess

princess

2 of 2

adjective

prin·​cess ˈprin(t)-səs How to pronounce princess (audio)
ˈprin-ˌses,
 (usually British)  prin-ˈses
variants or princesse
: close-fitting and usually with gores from neck to flaring hemline
a princess gown

Examples of princess in a Sentence

Noun She's just a stuck-up princess. as the reigning princess of pop music, she exerts an enormous influence over teens
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
As far back as 1953’s Roman Holiday, when Audrey Hepburn played a princess who falls for a reporter, Hollywood has drawn on the formula of an asymmetrical romantic union between a celebrity and a regular person. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024 With its myriad references to warbling princesses, cloying theme park animatronics, and lovable talking animals, Shrek was viewed by critics as a giant green middle finger to Katzenberg’s former employer. Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2024 The princess, the granddaughter of Man Singh II, the last maharajah of Jaipur, India, now serves as deputy chief minister of Rajasthan. Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2024 But some folks were offended when Disney shut down Splash Mountain because of the racist film that inspired the popular ride, and made plans to replace it with an attraction based on the company’s first Black princess. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024 With an all-star cast including Angela Bassett, Robin Wright, and Nick Robinson, the film turns the damsel in distress trope on its head, featuring mystical elements, epic battles, and a princess who must look within in order to save herself. Travis Bean, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024 Some members of the royal family, particularly the princes and princesses of its younger generation, are easy to slot into that victim role. Amanda Taub, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024 When Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, descends on her home, Tamsyn is commanded to marry the brutal warrior and save the pampered princesses. Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024 The princess’ announcement put an end to months of speculation over her health. Caitlin Danaher, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
Adjective
On his Instagram Stories, Martin also shared a mid-flight selfie from an airplane seat, holding a princess doll and looking out the window. Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023 Davis also designed the dress and coat for Moore’s daughter, Mia, who appeared at the inauguration in a princess-style blue dress with a matching coat and knit hat with pompoms. Maya Lora, Baltimore Sun, 28 Feb. 2023 Prince Harry was clubbing in Boujis at the weekend and Kate Middleton (pre-princess era) was stepping out in beautiful designer dresses and going rollerblading for charity — and so the royal beat became part of my job. Monique Jessen, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2022 Opt for the classic version, featuring an array of stories from beloved Disney and Pixar characters; try the Disney princess-specific calendar; or grab the Marvel edition. Annie Burdick, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2022 Actress Paige Hurd celebrated a milestone birthday over the weekend, entering her 30’s in princess fashion with a grand bash in Los Angeles. Rivea Ruff, Essence, 22 July 2022 The looks so far have included a sleek strapless Versace gown, a princess-style Chanel piece and a minimalist Gucci gown. Quinci Legardye, Harper's BAZAAR, 28 May 2022 Consider this the princess version of a naked dress. ELLE, 4 Apr. 2022 And John Carter, with its strange land, smart and feisty princess, loyal animal companion, noble group of underdogs, and its mysterious and villainous wizards, was another fairy tale. Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'princess.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French princesse princess, from prince

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of princess was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near princess

Cite this Entry

“Princess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/princess. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

princess

noun
prin·​cess
ˈprin(t)-səs,
ˈprin-ˌses,
prin-ˈses
1
: a daughter or granddaughter of a monarch : a female member of a royal family
2
: the wife of a prince

More from Merriam-Webster on princess

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