Definition of principality Principality

/pɹɪˌnsɪpæˈlɪti/ - [prinsipatlitee] - prin•ci•pal•i•ty

We found 7 definitions of principality from 5 different sources.

What does principality mean?

Noun Plural: principalities
principality - territory ruled by a prince
		princedom
		demesne, domain, land (mathematics) the set of values of the independent variable for which a function is defined

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principality (Noun)
A region or sovereign nation headed by a prince or princess.

principality (n.)
Sovereignty; supreme power; hence, superiority; predominance; high, or the highest, station.
principality (n.)
A prince; one invested with sovereignty.
principality (n.)
The territory or jurisdiction of a prince; or the country which gives title to a prince; as, the principality of Wales.

A principality (sometimes also called princedom) is a country which is ruled by a prince or princess. Principalities were common in the Middle Ages. Some principalities that still remain today are Andorra, Monaco and Liechtenstein.

Some states claim to be principalities but are not recognised by other countries: Sealand (an oil platform off the English coast), Seborga (a small town in Italy), the Principality of Hutt River in Australia and the Principality of Minerva in the Pacific.

Sometimes the word is also used to mean dependent territories in Africa, Asia and India, pre-Columbian America and Oceania. For these, the word princely states is generally preferred, especially if they came under the authority of a European colonial power.