1
a
: of kingly ancestry
the royal family
b
: of, relating to, or subject to the crown
the royal estates
c
: being in the crown's service
Royal Air Force
2
a
: suitable for royalty : magnificent
b
: requiring no exertion : easy
there is no royal road to logic—
Justus Buchler
Justus Buchler3
a
: of superior size, magnitude, or quality
a patronage of royal dimensions—J. H. Plumb
—often used as an intensiveJ. H. Plumba royal pain
b
: established or chartered by the crown
4
: of, relating to, or being a part (such as a mast, sail, or yard) next above the topgallant
1
: a person of royal blood
2
: a small sail on the royal mast immediately above the topgallant sail
3
: a stag of 8 years or more having antlers with at least 12 points
Synonyms
Examples of royal in a Sentence
Adjective
They received a royal welcome as they stepped off the plane.
the school superintendent received a royal welcome
Noun
magazine stories about the private lives of royals
Recent Examples on the Web
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
Massey, he of the royal first name, started 32 games in his prep career, totaling 40½ tackles for losses and 16½ sacks.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2025
Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
In Roman Holiday, Audrey Hepburn stars as Princess Ann, a royal who gets to enjoy Rome as a regular person for one day with Gregory Peck’s Joe Bradley playing tour guide.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, People.com, 10 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for royal 
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Adjective
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
Massey, he of the royal first name, started 32 games in his prep career, totaling 40½ tackles for losses and 16½ sacks.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2025
Noun
Prince Andrew appears to be in negotiations to open up his network of international business contacts built during his time as a royal in a move that could reportedly earn him millions.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
In Roman Holiday, Audrey Hepburn stars as Princess Ann, a royal who gets to enjoy Rome as a regular person for one day with Gregory Peck’s Joe Bradley playing tour guide.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, People.com, 10 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for royal
Dictionary Entries Near royal
Cite this Entry
“Royal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/royal. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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