principality

Noun

US[prin-sih-pal-ih-tee]/ˌprɪnsɪˈpælɪti/5 syllables

Synonyms: princedom

Open English WordNet

territory ruled by a princeSynonyms: princedomType of domain, demesneExamples Monaco, Grand Duchy of Moscow, Wales

Word of the day · Nov 15About this word

a state or condition markedly different from the norm

Prin′ci·pal′i·ty noun; pl. Principalities (#).

Origin: L. principalitas preëminence, excellence: cf. F. principalité, principauté. See Principal.

1. Sovereignty; supreme power; hence, superiority; predominance; high, or the highest, station. Sir Philip Sidney

Your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.— Jer. xiii. 18.

The prerogative and principality above everything else.— Taylor, Jeremy

2. A prince; one invested with sovereignty. “Next upstood Nisroch, of principalities the prime.” John Milton

3. The territory or jurisdiction of a prince; or the country which gives title to a prince; as, the principality of Wales.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54