actress

noun

ac·​tress ˈak-trəs How to pronounce actress (audio)
Synonyms of actressnext
: a woman or girl who is an actor
actressy
ˈak-trə-sē How to pronounce actress (audio)
adjective

Examples of actress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Following the tragic and sudden death of Hayden Panettiere, the actress’ mother, Lesley Vogel, is breaking her silence. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026 Award-winning actress Hayden Panettiere tragically died on Sunday, August 16, at age 36. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 18 Aug. 2026 Britton, 59, shared an emotional tribute to the actress on Instagram alongside a series of photos from their years together. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026 Hayden Panettiere’s death at the age of 36 came just months after the late actress publicly opened up about her estrangement from her mother and former manager, Lesley Vogel. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for actress

Word History

Etymology

actor + -ess

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of actress was in 1586

Rhymes for actress

See All Rhymes for actress

Browse Nearby Words

act psychology
actress
actressy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Actress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actress. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

actress

noun
ac·​tress ˈak-trəs How to pronounce actress (audio)
: a woman or girl who acts especially in a play or movie or on television

More from Merriam-Webster on actress

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for actress

Nglish: Translation of actress for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about actress

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