lady

noun

la·​dy ˈlā-dē 

plural ladies

often attributive

1

a

: a woman having proprietary rights or authority especially as a feudal superior

b

: a woman receiving the homage or devotion of a knight or lover

2

capitalized : virgin mary

—usually used with Our

3

a

: a woman of superior social position

b

: a woman of refinement and gentle manners

c

: woman, female

—often used in a courteous reference

show the lady to a seat

or usually in the plural in address

ladies and gentlemen

4

a

: wife

b

: girlfriend, mistress

5

a

: any of various titled women in Great Britain

—used as the customary title of (1) a marchioness, countess, viscountess, or baroness or (2) the wife of a knight, baronet, member of the peerage, or one having the courtesy title of lord and used as a courtesy title for the daughter of a duke, marquess, or earl

b

: a woman who is a member of an order of knighthood compare dame

Synonyms

• female
• woman

Examples of lady in a Sentence

Her mother was always telling her to act like a lady.

He bumped into some lady walking to the bus stop.

He helped a little old lady cross the street.

Recent Examples on the Web

The first lady then headed directly to the Hancock Park home of Dr. Patricia Gordon for a campaign fundraiser event that evening for the Biden Victory Fund, according to the White House. —Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2024

First, one of the crew found a marble head of a Roman lady, and two weeks later its bust surfaced nearby, reuniting the pieces. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024

President Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden also visited Puerto Rico in October of 2022, and Jill Biden visited the island earlier this week. —Nidia Cavazos, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024

In the 20th century, semi-secretive, as a lady might admit to powdering her nose but not to reddening her cheeks. —Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024

But these ladies killed that cougar with their bare hands ... —Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024

The Democratic campaign kickoff follows a string of visits from Biden and his surrogates in recent weeks, including Vice President Kamala Harris, first lady Jill Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. —Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2024

Among the invitees are former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. —Eleanor McCrary, The Courier-Journal, 15 Mar. 2024

The first lady, meanwhile, is set to appear on the line in Middlesex and Essex Counties as well as in Bergen County after a recent key win at the nominating convention there -- clinching the line in the state's three largest counties. —Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hlǣfdige, from hlāf bread + -dige (akin to dǣge kneader of bread) — more at loaf, dairy

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing lady

• a lady/man/gentleman of leisure
• bag lady
• dragon lady
• it ain't over until/till the fat lady sings
• first lady
• lady-in-waiting
• lady chapel
• lady apple
• lady-killer
• lady's mantle
• lady's man
• lady of the house
• lady's thumb
• leading lady
• lady's-smock
• the lady of the house
• second lady
• painted lady
• cleaning lady
• old lady
• lady's slipper
• lady luck
• pink lady

Kids Definition

lady

noun

la·​dy ˈlād-ē 

plural ladies

1

: a woman of property, rank, or authority

especially : one having a standing equivalent to that of a lord

—used as a title

2

capitalized : virgin mary

—usually used with Our

3

: a woman of high social position

4

: woman sense 1

5

: wife sense 2

Etymology

Old English hlæfdige, from hlāf "loaf of bread" and -dīge, a form of a root word meaning "to knead dough" — related to loaf, lord see Word History at lord

Word Origin

The word lady is nowadays generally used as a polite term for a woman. In the past, however, lady was used primarily for "a woman of a high social class." The Old English ancestor of lady was hlæfdige, which came from two other words. One was hlāf, meaning "loaf of bread." The other was -dīge, a form of a root word meaning "to knead dough." But the word hlæfdige was not used in Old English for an actual bread maker. It was used instead to refer to the woman in charge of maids and of a household. Only very rich and powerful women, members of the nobility, had maids and large households, so a lady was owed much respect. The title lady is still used in Great Britain for a woman who is a member of the nobility.