Origin: Latin suffix -al
Imperial has 11 different meanings across 3 categories:
Noun · Adjective · Proper Noun
a small tufted beard worn by Emperor Napoleon III
"Napoleon III's distinctive imperial hairstyle and matching facial hair made him instantly recognizable to his subjects."
a piece of luggage carried on top of a coach
"The porter strapped the heavy imperial onto the roof rack of the vintage coach before they departed."
A bottle of wine (usually Bordeaux) containing 6 liters of fluid, eight times the volume of a standard bottle.
"The sommelier carefully poured a glass from our rare imperial, which holds enough wine for eight people."
A large Bordeaux wine bottle with the capacity of about 6 liters, equivalent to 8 standard bottles.
In plain English: An imperial is an old-fashioned title for someone who rules over many lands as if they were their own private property.
"The emperor issued an imperial decree to halt all trade with neighboring countries."
relating to or associated with an empire
"imperial colony"
"the imperial gallon was standardized legally throughout the British Empire"
of or belonging to the British Imperial System of weights and measures
"The imperial pint is significantly larger than a US liquid quart, reflecting differences in the two measurement systems."
Related to an empire, emperor, or empress.
"The imperial train arrived in Tokyo, carrying the Emperor on his journey through the capital."
Clipping of Imperial Japanese.
In plain English: Imperial means relating to an empire, which is a group of countries ruled by one powerful leader or government.
"The emperor issued an imperial decree ordering all citizens to gather in the square."
Usage: Use this adjective when describing things associated with an empire, such as imperial history or imperial courts. Avoid confusing it with "imperial" wine bottles, which is actually a noun referring to large 6-liter containers of Bordeaux.
A city in Imperial County, California, United States.
"The residents of Imperial are enjoying a sunny day at the local beach near their coastal county seat."
The word "imperial" entered Middle and then Modern English via the French language to describe anything related to an empire or emperor. It ultimately derives from a Latin root meaning "to command," which was originally formed by combining words for "in" and "prepare."