crown princess: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, journalistic, historical
Quick answer
What does “crown princess” mean?
The wife of a crown prince, the heir apparent to a throne.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The wife of a crown prince, the heir apparent to a throne.
A princess who is the direct heir to a throne in her own right, especially when there are no male heirs. Also used more broadly to refer to any prominent female successor or heir in an organization or field.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. However, it is more frequently encountered in British media due to the relevance of the British monarchy. American usage is more often in international or historical contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes royalty, succession, formality, and heritage. In figurative use, it can imply a privileged or designated successor.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English. In US English, it's a low-frequency term outside specific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “crown princess” in a Sentence
[Crown Princess] + of + [Country/Realm]the + [Crown Princess] + [verb][verb] + as + Crown PrincessVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crown princess” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The prince will be crowned, and his wife will be crown-princessed in a separate ceremony. (extremely rare, poetic)
American English
- (No standard verb use.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb use.)
American English
- (No standard adverb use.)
adjective
British English
- She attended in her crown-princess regalia. (hyphenated attributive use)
American English
- The crown princess duties were extensive. (noun adjunct use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Figuratively used for a female executive groomed for leadership: 'She was seen as the crown princess of the corporation.'
Academic
Used in historical, political science, or gender studies texts discussing monarchy, succession laws, or royal titles.
Everyday
Used in news about royal families, historical dramas, or documentaries.
Technical
A specific title in heraldry, law (constitutional), and protocol.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crown princess”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crown princess”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crown princess”
- Using 'princess crown'.
- Capitalizing incorrectly when not part of a title (e.g., 'The Crown Princess arrived' vs 'She is a crown princess').
- Using it for any princess, not specifically the heir or heir's wife.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'princess' is a broader title for a female royal. A 'crown princess' specifically denotes either the wife of the crown prince (the male heir) or, in some monarchies, the female heir apparent herself.
It is capitalized when used as part of a specific royal title or directly before a name (e.g., Crown Princess Mary). When used generically, it is often not capitalized (e.g., 'She became a crown princess.').
Yes. If she is the crown princess as the heir apparent, she will become queen regnant upon the monarch's death or abdication. If she is the crown princess as the wife of the crown prince, she will become queen consort when her husband becomes king.
The direct male equivalent is 'crown prince'.
The wife of a crown prince, the heir apparent to a throne.
Crown princess is usually formal, journalistic, historical in register.
Crown princess: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn prɪnˈses/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn prɪnˈsɛs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[figurative] The crown princess of the tech industry (a designated female successor).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the CROWN a PRINCESS wears. The CROWN PRINCESS is the princess associated with the future crown.
Conceptual Metaphor
INHERITANCE IS RECEIVING A CROWN; A SUCCESSOR IS A ROYAL HEIR.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is the term 'crown princess' used correctly?