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Meaning & use

ducal

adjective·Advancedformal

Last updated

UK/ˈdjuːkl/
US/ˈduːkl/

Meaning

  1. adjectivebefore a nounformal

    Belonging to or connected with a duke or duchess.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: ducal palace, ducal title. Not used after a verb.

    Patterns

    • ducal palace
    • ducal title
    • ducal family

    The ducal palace is open to the public.

    He inherited the ducal title from his father.

    The ducal family attended the ceremony.

Common combinations

ducal palace
They visited the ducal palace in the old town.
ducal title
The ducal title brought great responsibility.
ducal residence
The building served as a ducal residence for centuries.

Synonyms and how they differ

royal
Relates to a king or queen, a higher rank than ducal.
noble
A more general term for aristocracy, not specifically a duke.

Word family

duke noun
A nobleman of high rank, just below a prince.
duchess noun
The wife or widow of a duke, or a woman holding the rank herself.
duchy noun
The territory ruled by a duke or duchess.

Commonly confused: ducal or dual?

ducal vs dual

Dual means having two parts, while ducal relates to a duke. They sound similar but have different meanings.

Practice

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