noun
royalty
The status and authority belonging to a royal family.
The crown represents the dignity and authority of royalty.
Etymology
Royal comes from a word for a king. The state-forming ending names the dignity, status, or authority belonging to rulers and their family.
More examples
- Her marriage to the prince gives her the status of royalty.
- European royalty gathers at the palace for the wedding.
- The hotel staff treats every guest like royalty.
Forms
royal adjective — Belonging to a king, queen, or royal family.
Similar words
- sovereignty
- Emphasizes supreme governing authority, not royal family status.
- nobility
- Refers to aristocratic rank, usually below that of royalty.