countess

noun

count·​ess ˈkau̇n-təs 

1

: the wife or widow of an earl or count

2

: a woman who holds in her own right the rank of earl or count

Examples of countess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There were so many senior royals still on the roster (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor among them), that Prince Edward and Sophie, countess of Wessex (now the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh) were relatively minor public figures and had yet to see their profiles bloom. —Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 20 Jan. 2026

Julie Delpy played a version of Báthory in 2009 feature The Countess; Anna Friel in the 2008 historical drama Bathory, and Maria Kalinina in the 2006 slasher horror Stay Alive, in which the spirit of the blood countess haunts a survival video game. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Jan. 2026

Jeanne-Claude’s parents, a French general and countess, arrived in Petaluma the day before the scheduled completion. —Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025

De Saint Sernin’s spring show was inspired by his French nobility roots, specifically his grandmother, who was a countess. —Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

countess

noun

count·​ess ˈkau̇nt-əs 

1

: the wife or widow of a count or an earl

2

: a woman holding the rank of count or earl