Definition

1. Noun:
   • A female member of a royal family who is not the queen, especially the daughter of a sovereign: The word "princess" primarily refers to a woman who is a close relative of a king or queen, typically a daughter or granddaughter. Her status is royal but subordinate to that of a queen.
   • The wife of a prince: "Princess" can also refer to the consort of a prince.
   • (Historical/Archaic) A female monarch or ruler: In older usage, it could denote a woman who ruled a principality or was a sovereign in her own right.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Princess Anne is the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II.
  • The young princess waved to the crowd from the palace balcony.
  • She became a princess upon marrying the crown prince.

Advanced Usage

• "Princess Royal": A title occasionally bestowed upon the eldest daughter of a British sovereign.

  • Princess Anne holds the title Princess Royal.

• "Princess Regent": A princess who rules as regent on behalf of a monarch who is absent, a minor, or incapacitated.

  • The princess regent governed the kingdom while the king was at war.

Variants and Related Words

• Princely (adj): Relating to or characteristic of a prince or princess; magnificent.

  • They lived in princely splendor.

• Princesse (adj): Used in fashion to describe a specific cut of a dress (princess line).

  • She wore a beautiful princesse gown.

Synonyms

• Royal lady: A woman of royal birth or marriage.
• Female royal: A general term for a woman belonging to a royal family.

Related Phrases

• Princess of the blood: (Historical) A princess who is a legitimate lineal descendant of a sovereign.
  • In some monarchies, only princesses of the blood could inherit the throne.

Related Idioms

• "Princess and the pea": A reference to the fairy tale, often used to describe someone who is overly sensitive or delicate, especially regarding comfort.

  • He called her a princess and the pea because she complained about the mattress.

• "To live like a princess": To live in great luxury and comfort.

  • After winning the lottery, she lived like a princess.

Noun

1. a female member of a royal family other than the queen (especially the daughter of a sovereign)