plural duchies
1
: the territory of a duke or duchess : dukedom
2
: special domain

Examples of duchy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The 2017 Paradise Papers revealed that the duchy of Lancaster, while in the queen’s possession, invested millions of pounds in the Cayman Islands, and that the duchy of Cornwall, while in Prince Charles’s possession, invested millions of pounds in Bermuda and other offshore tax havens. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 Tunji Kasim as Adolphus Tunji Kasim plays the older brother of Queen Charlotte, who is inspired by the real Adolphus Friedrich IV, who was the ruler of the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2023 Different from the duchies, the Crown Estate is managed by the government and its profits go to the state treasury. Mary Jordan, Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2023 Royal duchies, unlike other businesses and landed estates in Britain, are exempt from corporate and capital gains taxes, though Charles voluntarily paid income tax. Mary Jordan, Washington Post, 5 May 2023 Land owned by the Crown was incorporated as a new duchy, and Edward’s son became the first Duke of Cornwall. Town & Country, 28 Apr. 2023 In the 16th century rulers across Europe introduced new laws to make sorcery punishable by death—and the trials moved from ecclesiastical to secular courts, such as in duchies and towns. Silvia Federici, Scientific American, 17 Apr. 2023 Saturday Night Live executive producer Lorne Michaels is pleased to announce four new tributes to be held in his duchy at 30 Rockefeller Center. Vulture, 12 Sep. 2022 Is the duchy of Brabant (present-day Belgium) huddling in a giant bomb crater? Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 30 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'duchy.' 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 duche, from Anglo-French duché, from duc

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of duchy was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near duchy

Cite this Entry

“Duchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duchy. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

duchy

noun
plural duchies
: the territory of a duke or duchess

More from Merriam-Webster on duchy

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