prince

A "prince" most often means a male member of a royal family, especially the son of a king or queen, or a man who holds that title. In stories, this is the royal hero who may one day rule. In real life, it can mean someone born into a monarchy or someone given the title in a ruling family.

The word can also be used in a wider, figurative way for a man who stands out as a leader or top figure in a field, such as a "prince of merchants" or the "Prince of Darkness." In both everyday and literary use, the word suggests high rank, power, and importance.

The word "prince" is best known as a royal title. Most often, it means a male member of a royal family, especially the son of a king or queen. It can also mean a man who rules a principality or another small state. This is the meaning people usually think of in history books, news reports, and fairy tales.

The word also appears in figurative language. In that use, a "prince" is a man seen as leading others or standing above the rest in some area. For example, someone might be called a "prince of poets" or the "Prince of Darkness." These uses are not about actual royal birth. They are about power, status, reputation, or strong influence.

Because of this mix of literal and figurative use, the word often carries ideas of rank, honor, and importance. It comes from the Latin princeps, meaning "first" or "chief." So whether it refers to a royal son, a ruler, or a leading figure in a group, "prince" points to someone placed near the top.