n. pl. roy·al·ties 1. Monarchs and their families considered as a group.
2. A person of royal rank or family: I wish he'd quit acting like he's royalty.
3. The rank, power, or authority of a monarch: A crown is a symbol of royalty.
4. Royal quality or bearing.
5. A kingdom or possession ruled by a monarch.
6. A right or prerogative of the crown, as that of receiving a percentage of the proceeds from mines in the royal domain.
7. a. The granting of a right by a monarch to a corporation or an individual to exploit specified natural resources.
b. The payment for such a right.
8. a. A share paid to a writer or composer out of the proceeds resulting from the sale or performance of their work.
b. A share in the proceeds paid to an inventor or proprietor for the right to use their invention or services.
9. A share of the profit or product reserved by the grantor, especially of an oil or mining lease. In this sense also called override.