lady

noun

ˈlā-dē How to pronounce lady (audio)
Definition of ladynext
1
as in woman
an adult female human being "ladies and gentlemen, please observe closely," said the magician

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2
as in wife
a female partner in a marriage in public the husband was frequently seen holding hands with his lady

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3
as in countess
a woman of high birth or social position the ladies of the royal court were all dressed extravagantly

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4
as in girlfriend
a female romantic companion when do we get to meet your new lady?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lady Mindy Kaling fondly recalled a perspective-shifting conversation with the funny ladies from 20 years back on Tuesday's episode of Poehler's Good Hang podcast. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026 Much of this episode focused on Rhaenyra’s uncomfortable interactions with various lords and ladies in King’s Landing, from a hostile High Septon to Lord Corlys Velaryon to her new dragonriders. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026 Madonna never set out to become a classic British lady of the manor, however, until fate intervened when she was introduced to Hugo Vickers, Cecil Beaton's suave biographer, through a mutual friend in 1998. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 5 July 2026 Second lady Usha Vance mocking The New York Times for reading political significance into her Old Navy maternity dress and the New York Knicks celebrating their NBA title were featured in last week's News Quiz. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lady
  1. woman
  2. wife
  3. countess
  4. girlfriend
  5. female
  6. queen
  7. girl
  8. duchess
Noun
  • Hiltz competes in women’s events, but identifies as non-binary and transgender, using they/them pronouns.
    — Lindsay Schnell, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Miki Sudo defended her title as well in the women’s division.
    — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
Definition of woman
Noun
  • The Seasnake, who has lost his wife and his heir to her war, is justifiably livid.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
  • His third wife, Cuban model Sheila Mariño, gave birth to their son in June.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of wife
Noun
  • Jarman and Karen Spencer were previously embroiled in legal proceedings after the archeologist sued the countess in 2024, People and The Times reported.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 19 May 2026
  • But the countess couldn’t stop wondering where Alberta’s dress could be.
    — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Definition of countess
Noun
  • Dunham, Antonoff's ex-girlfriend, is also a longtime friend of the pop superstar.
    — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • His girlfriend, Syanna Ruiz, held their child in court, demanding the defendants remain behind bars.
    — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of girlfriend
Noun
  • In many cases, males blink about every five seconds while searching for females and females respond with flashes of their own about every two seconds.
    — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Deputies entered the apartment to find a deceased adult female, according to the post.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of female
Noun
  • Resting options include double bunk beds in back and queen bed with bamboo mattress up front.
    — Kris Millgate, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Get a king for the price of a queen, or a queen for the price of a twin, plus a free adjustable base during the sale.
    — V BRAND STORIES, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of queen
Noun
  • Beyond their cool-girl air, the shoes offer plenty of support and cushioning thanks to their plush insoles that keep your arches comfortable for hours of strutting.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 7 July 2026
  • On the surface, the Supreme Court’s June 30 opinion upholding state laws barring transgender girls from women’s and girl’s sports teams looks like a victory for women’s rights.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of girl
Noun
  • Her students were primarily Parisian royalty (Igor’s half-sister, French actor Odile Versois, married Count François Reynier Ambroise Henri Pozzo di Borgo), with their lessons inside the duchess’ palace.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
  • Multiple charities cut ties with Ferguson in 2025 In September 2025, several charities cut ties with the former duchess following reports of her emails with Epstein.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 27 June 2026
Definition of duchess

Phrases Containing lady

Browse Nearby Words

lads
lady
lady-in-waiting
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Cite this Entry

“Lady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lady. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lady

Nglish: Translation of lady for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lady

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