Royalty
/ˈrɔɪəlti/
Definitions
3 meaningsMembers of a royal family; people of royal blood or status.
/ˈrɔɪəlti/
Members of a royal family.
The wedding of the prince attracted international attention, with royalty from all over the world attending.
💡 Simply: Imagine a king or queen and their family. Royalty are them – the people with special titles and fancy crowns! Think of them as the 'ruling family.'
👶 For kids: The king and queen and all their family!
More Examples
The museum showcased portraits of British royalty spanning several centuries.
The children were fascinated by stories of knights and royalty.
How It's Used
"The event was attended by several members of the British royalty."
"The history books chronicle the lives and reigns of royalty."
A payment made to an author, composer, inventor, or other creator for the use of their intellectual property, especially for each copy of a book sold, each performance of a musical work, or each item manufactured under a patent.
/ˈrɔɪəlti/
A payment made to an author or inventor.
The author earned significant royalties from the film adaptation of her novel.
💡 Simply: When someone makes something cool, like a book or a song, they can get paid every time someone uses it. That payment is called a royalty, like a reward for their work!
👶 For kids: Money you get for letting someone use something you made, like a book or a song.
More Examples
The inventor receives a royalty for every unit of the product sold.
The agreement stipulated a percentage royalty to be paid to the copyright holder.
How It's Used
"The author receives royalties for each book sold."
"The company pays a royalty to use the patented technology."
Royal status, power, or authority.
/ˈrɔɪəlti/
Royal status or power.
The symbols and trappings of royalty were evident at the coronation.
💡 Simply: It's the special power and position that kings and queens have! It's like their special job, their important status, and how they get treated.
👶 For kids: The special job and power the king and queen have!
More Examples
The historical account focused on the rise and fall of royalty.
The monarchy’s royalty extended influence across the empire.
How It's Used
"The throne represented the symbol of royalty and authority."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
Royal flush
The best possible hand in poker: an ace, king, queen, jack, and ten of the same suit.
"He won the entire pot with a royal flush."
Royal decree
An official order made by a king or queen.
"The king issued a royal decree to change the laws."
From Old French "roialté" (royal status), derived from "roial" (royal), ultimately from Latin "regalis" (relating to a king). The term evolved to encompass the rights and payments associated with ownership or authorship.
The term "royalty" has been used for centuries, initially to denote royal lineage and later, as trade and commerce developed, to refer to payments for property and intellectual property rights.
Memory tip
Think of the word "royal." Royalty are those who are royal.
Word Origin
"relating to a king (regalis)"