Definition

1. Noun:
   • A male member of a royal family other than the monarch: A "prince" is a male who is part of a royal family, typically the son or grandson of a king or queen, but not the reigning sovereign himself.
   • A ruler of a small state or territory: Historically, a "prince" can be the male ruler of a principality or a small sovereign state.
   • A preeminent person in a particular sphere: Figuratively, a "prince" can refer to a man who is the leading or most outstanding figure in a specific field or activity.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Royal Family Member):
  • Prince William is the eldest son of King Charles III.
  • The young prince will one day inherit the throne.
• Noun (Ruler):
  • Machiavelli wrote "The Prince" as advice for rulers.
  • The prince ruled his small territory with absolute authority.
• Noun (Leading Figure):
  • He was considered a prince among chefs, renowned for his innovation.
  • The actor was hailed as the prince of Broadway for his performances.

Advanced Usage

• "Prince Consort": The husband of a reigning queen who is himself a prince but not king.
  • Prince Albert was the Prince Consort to Queen Victoria.
• "Crown Prince": The heir apparent to the throne.
  • The crown prince is being prepared for his future duties as king.

Variants and Related Words

• Princely (adj): Relating to or suitable for a prince; magnificent.
  • He was paid a princely sum for his consultancy work.
• Princedom (n): The position, rank, or territory of a prince.
  • The tiny princedom maintained its independence for centuries.
• Princess (n): The female counterpart; a female member of a royal family.

Synonyms

• Royal: A person of royal blood or status.
• Monarch: A sovereign head of state, but this is a broader term that includes kings and emperors.
• Sovereign: A supreme ruler, especially a monarch.
• Potentate: A monarch or ruler, especially an autocratic one.

Related Phrases

• Prince of Darkness: A name for the Devil, Satan.
  • The character in the story was a metaphor for the Prince of Darkness.
• Prince of Peace: A title for Jesus Christ.
  • The carol celebrates the birth of the Prince of Peace.
• Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark: An event or situation lacking its most important feature or person.
  • Holding the conference without the keynote speaker was like Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark.

Related Idioms

• Live like a prince: To live in great luxury and comfort.
  • After winning the lottery, he lived like a prince for a few years.
• A prince among men: A man who is exceptionally kind, generous, or admirable.
  • He helped everyone in the village without asking for anything in return; he was a prince among men.

Noun

1. a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)