Cinderella

noun

Cin·​der·​el·​la ˌsin-də-ˈre-lə How to pronounce Cinderella (audio)
: one resembling the fairy-tale Cinderella: such as
a
: one suffering undeserved neglect
b
: one suddenly lifted from obscurity to honor or significance
Cinderella adjective

Examples of Cinderella in a Sentence

a company that is the Cinderella of the computer industry The team is the Cinderella of the tournament.

Word History

Etymology

after Cinderella, fairy-tale heroine who is used as a drudge by her stepmother but ends up married to a prince

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Cinderella was in 1840

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cinderella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cinderella. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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