palace

UK: /ˈpæləs/ US: /ˈpælɪs/ ,(pal′is)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pal•ace /ˈpælɪs/   n. [countable]

1. the place that is the official home of a king, queen, or other high-ranking person:
   the marble steps of the royal palace.
2. a luxurious mansion:
   Their home was a palace, stretching for what seemed like miles.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pal•ace  (pal′is), n. 

1. the official residence of a king, queen, bishop, or other sovereign or exalted personage.
2. a large and stately mansion or building.
3. a large and usually ornate place for entertainment, exhibitions, etc.

• Old French Latin Palātium
• Medieval Latin palācium, spelling, spelled variant of palātium, Latin: generic use of Palātium name of the hill in Rome on which the emperor's palace was situated; replacing Middle English paleis
• Middle English 1200–50

pal ′aced, adj. 
pal′ace•like′, adj. 
pal′ace•ward, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

palace / ˈpælɪs/ noun (capital when part of a name)

1. the official residence of a reigning monarch or member of a royal family
2. the official residence of various high-ranking church dignitaries or members of the nobility, as of an archbishop
3. a large and richly furnished building resembling a royal palace

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French palais, from Latin Palātium Palatine², the site of the palace of the emperors