principality

UK: /ˌprɪnsɪˈpælɪti/

US: /ˌprɪnsəˈpælɪti/

US: (prin′sə pal′i tē)

Inflections of 'principality' (n): npl: principalities

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

prin•ci•pal•i•ty /ˌprɪnsəˈpælɪti/   n. [countable] , pl. -ties. 

1. Government a country or state ruled by a prince.

See -prim-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

prin•ci•pal•i•ty  (prin′sə pal′i tē), n., pl. -ties. 

1. Government a state ruled by a prince, usually a relatively small state or a state that falls within a larger state such as an empire.
2. Government the position or authority of a prince or chief ruler;
   sovereignty;
   supreme power.
3. Government the rule of a prince of a small or subordinate state.
4. British Terms, Government the Principality, Wales.
5. principalities, [Theol.]
   • Religion an order of angels. Cf. angel (def. 1).
   • Religion supramundane powers often in conflict with God. Ephes. 6:12.
6. [Obs.] preeminence.

• Late Latin prīncipālitās first place, superiority (Medieval Latin: authority or territory of a prince). See principal, -ity
• Old French
• Middle English principalite 1300–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

principality / ˌprɪnsɪˈpælɪtɪ/ noun ( -ties)

1. a territory ruled by a prince
2. the dignity or authority of a prince

Etymology: 14th Century (in the sense: pre-eminence): via Old French from Latin principālis principal