royalty

noun

roy·​al·​ty ˈrȯi(-ə)l-tē How to pronounce royalty (audio)
plural royalties
1
a
: royal status or power : sovereignty
b
: a right or perquisite of a sovereign (such as a percentage paid to the crown of gold or silver taken from mines)
2
: regal character or bearing : nobility
3
a
: persons of royal lineage
b
: a person of royal rank
how to address royaltiesGeorge Santayana
c
: an elite class
4
: a right of jurisdiction granted to an individual or corporation by a sovereign
5
a
: a share of the product or profit reserved by the grantor especially of an oil or mining lease
b
: a payment to an author or composer for each copy of a work sold or to an inventor for each item sold under a patent

Examples of royalty in a Sentence

It was an honor and a privilege to dine with royalty. On our wedding day, we were treated like royalty.
Recent Examples on the Web Since 1994, the Oscar party organized by Vanity Fair has become an event where once a year all kinds of stars align, from Olympic medalists and international models to European and Hollywood royalty. Blanca De Almandoz, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2024 Streaming royalties can contribute enormously to musicians' wealth. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024 This season, the Bulldogs hosted an all-Oakland final played in front of local royalty, including former Oakland High star Damian Lillard. Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 The site gives royalties — songwriter royalties for mechanical, synch, public performance and other income sources — for two years: $261,497.39 in 2022 and $180,839.00 in 2021. Glenn Peoples, Billboard, 6 Mar. 2024 The film’s climactic scene teases what’s to come, but also features a moment where the audience gazes upon a stellar lineup of young Hollywood royalty — Chalamet, Zendaya, Butler and Pugh — each bringing their unique talents to the lore. Clayton Davis, Variety, 2 Mar. 2024 On his left were Eastside royalty — Molina, Villaraigosa, then-Assemblymember Cedillo — and newcomers, including City Atty. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Each lease includes a 12.5% royalty paid to the state for production. Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 26 Feb. 2024 The business was a glittering antiques mall for set designers, party planners, decorators, society lions and Hollywood royalty. Penelope Green, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'royalty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English roialte, from Anglo-French realté, roialté, from real

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of royalty was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near royalty

Cite this Entry

“Royalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/royalty. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

royalty

noun
roy·​al·​ty ˈrȯi(-ə)l-tē How to pronounce royalty (audio)
plural royalties
1
: royal status or power
2
: royal character or conduct
3
: members of a royal family
4
a
: a share of a product or profit (as of a mine) claimed by the owner for allowing another to use the property
b
: a payment made to the owner of a patent or copyright for the use of it

Legal Definition

royalty

noun
roy·​al·​ty
plural royalties
1
: a right delegated (as to an individual or corporation) by a sovereign
2
a
: a share of the profit or product reserved by the grantor especially of an oil or mineral lease compare overriding royalty
b
: a payment made to an author or composer for each copy of a work sold or to an inventor for each article sold under a patent

More from Merriam-Webster on royalty

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