dame

noun

ˈdām 

1

: a woman of rank, station, or authority: such as

a

archaic : the mistress of a household

b

: the wife or daughter of a lord

c

: a female member of an order of knighthood

—used as a title prefixed to the given name

2

a

informal : an elderly woman : matron

b

US slang, old-fashioned : woman

a classy dame

Synonyms

• dowager
• grande dame
• matriarch
• matron

Examples of dame in a Sentence

She was made a dame the year before she died.

as the grand dames of local society, they determined which charities received support

Recent Examples on the Web

Known as the grand dame of Southern cooking, Edna Lewis was one of the most influential culinary forces in America. —Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

Confined to a wheelchair following two hip replacements, Taylor — who was made a dame in 2000 by Prime Minister Tony Blair — survived surgery for a benign brain tumor in 1997 and also suffered bouts of pneumonia, scoliosis and congestive heart failure. —People Staff, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024

This restored 1884 Victorian seaside grand dame underwent a $20 million renovation a couple of years ago and now has 12 cottages, four suites, a three-bedroom waterfront property, and 34 guestrooms. —Everett Potter, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

In an episode that ran in 2016, the grand dame recalled her mother’s support. —Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024

Ringwald’s Carson also strikes a kooky, California contrast with the Manhattan swans — both more humble and more out-there than the East Coast grand dames like Lee Radziwill (Calista Flockhart) and Slim Keith (Diane Lane). —Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024

My favorite is the Hotel Splendide Royal, a Bele Epoque grand dame on the lakefront. —Everett Potter, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024

The original grand dame on the island, Eden Rock–St Barths hasn’t lost an ounce of glamor in its 70 years—and looks better than ever thanks to a major two-year renovation after the hurricane. —Lane Nieset, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Jan. 2024

Warsaw Ballroom, 1450 Collins Ave., 531-4555: The reigning grand dame of South Beach gay clubs. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin domina, feminine of dominus master; akin to Latin domus house — more at dome

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dame

• grande dame
• dame's rocket
• dame school

Kids Definition

dame

noun

ˈdām 

: a woman of rank, station, or authority: as

a

archaic : the mistress of a household

b

: the wife or daughter of a lord

c

: a female member of an order of knighthood

—used as a title before a given name

Etymology

Middle English dame "a woman of rank or authority, lady," from early French dame (same meaning), from Latin domina "mistress, lady," feminine form of dominus "master, owner" — related to damsel, dominate, don entry 2, madam, madonna, prima donna