From Middle English royal, from Old French roial (Modern French royal), from Latin rēgālis, from rēx ("king").

• (RP) IPA: /ˈɹɔɪəl/
• (America) IPA: /ˈɹɔɪ(ə)l/

royal (comparative royaler, superlative royalest)

1. Of or relating to a monarch or his (or her) family.
   • 1909, Archibald Marshall [pseudonym; Arthur Hammond Marshall], “A Court Ball”, in The Squire’s Daughter, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead and Company, published 1919, →OCLC ↗, page 9 ↗:

     He tried to persuade Cicely to stay away from the ball-room for a fourth dance. […] But she said she must go back, and when they joined the crowd again her partner was haled off with a frightened look to the royal circle, […]

   • 2011, Marilyn Price, Grandma's Cookies, page 7:

     On the first Friday morning of his kingship he went into the kitchen and called for his royal chef.

2. Having the air or demeanour of a monarch; illustrious; magnanimous; of more than common size or excellence.
   • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act III, scene ii], page 175 ↗, column 2:

     How doth that royal Merchant good Anthonio;

3. (nautical) In large sailing ships, of a mast right above the topgallant mast and its sails.

   royal mast;  royal sail

4. (boxing, military) Free-for-all, especially involving multiple combatants.
5. (informal) Used as an intensifier.

   a royal pain in the neck

6. (chess) Describing a piece which, if captured, results in loss of game.

   Maharajah and the Sepoys pits a single royal amazon for white against a standard chess army for black.

• (of a monarch) kingly (of a king), monarchical, princely (of a prince), queenly (of a queen), regal, roy (obsolete)
• (having a monarch's air) majestic, regal, stately
• (informal intensifier) major

• real
• realm

• French: royal, royale
• German: königlich
• Italian: reale, regale
• Portuguese: real
• Russian: короле́вский
• Spanish: real

royal (plural royals)

1. (somewhat, informal, often capitalised) A royal person; a member of a royal family.
2. (paper, printing) A standard size of printing paper, measuring 25 by 20 inches.
3. (paper) A standard size of writing paper, measuring 24 by 19 inches.
4. (dated) The Australian decimal currency intended to replace the pound in 1966; was changed to "dollar" before it was actually circulated.
5. Any of various lycaenid butterflies.
6. The fourth tine of an antler's beam.
7. A stag with twelve points (six on each antler).
8. (nautical, sailing) In large sailing ships, square sail over the topgallant sail.
   • 1840, R[ichard] H[enry] D[ana], Jr., “CHAPTER XXXV”, in Two Years before the Mast. […] (Harper’s Family Library; no. CVI), New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers […], →OCLC ↗:

     in ten days after we spoke the Solon, so rapid was his recovery, that, from lying helpless and almost hopeless in his berth, he was at the mast-heId, furling a royal.

9. An old English gold coin, the rial.
10. (military) A small mortar.
11. (card games) In auction bridge, a royal spade.
12. A tuft of beard on the lower lip.

    Synonyms: imperial

13. (campanology) Bell changes rung on ten bells.

• German: Royal

• French: trochure

• French: cacatois
• German: Royalsegel
• Portuguese: real
• Russian: бом-брамсель
• Spanish: real

A habitational surname, shaped by folk etymology, from places in England, Riehale, Righale, Ryhill and Ryall, Old English ryge + hyll ("hill"), and Royle, rā ("roe") + hyll ("hill").

1. Surname.
2. A male given name from the surname

royal (plural royals)

1. (soccer) someone connected with Reading Football Club, as a fan, player, coach etc.

Capitalization of royal.

1. A male given name from the word "royal".

royal (plural royals)

1. (UK, historical) A member of the first regiment of foot in the British army.

1. Alternative form of royal