# palace

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpæl.ɪs/ · frequency rank #3,320

## Definitions
1. Official residence of a head of state or other dignitary, especially in a monarchical or imperial governmental system.
2. A large and lavishly ornate residence.
3. A large, ornate public building used for entertainment or exhibitions.

## Etymology
From Middle English paleys, from Old French palais, which comes from Latin palātium, from Palātium, in reference to the Palatine (Palatine Hill), one of the seven hills of Rome, where the aristocracy of the Roman Republic—and later, Roman emperors—built large, splendid residences. The name is ultimately either from Etruscan, the same source as Pales (“Pales, the Italic goddess of shepherds, flocks and livestock”), or Latin palus (“stake; enclosure”). Doublet of palazzo and Pfalz.

## Easily confused with
- **pale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-pale)
- **place** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-place)
- **peace** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-peace)
- **plane** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-plane)
- **plate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-plate)
- **Palau** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-palau)
- **Palme** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-palme)
- **police** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-police)
- **places** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-places)
- **placed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-placed)
- **parade** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-parade)
- **palate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-palate)
- **papacy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-papacy)
- **placer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-placer)
- **Pilate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-pilate)
- **palaces** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-palaces)
- **panacea** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-panacea)
- **panache** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-panache)
- **parlance** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/palace-vs-parlance)
- **pace** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pace-vs-palace)

## Common misspellings (8)
`aplace`, `paalce`, `palacce`, `palaec`, `palcae`, `pallace`, `plaace`, `ppalace`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/palace