countess

noun count·ess \ ˈkau̇n-təs \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Definition of countess

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

See countess defined for English-language learners

See countess defined for kids

Recent Examples of countess from the Web

Named for the famed boxer Joe Louis Barrow, the Joe, as it was often called, was the site of countess memories for sports and entertainment fans alike.

— deasia paige, Detroit Free Press, "On this date: Joe Louis Arena dedication touched off lifetime of memories," 12 June 2018
My favorites are Céleste Mogador, who became a countess, and Gisèle d’Estoc, a bisexual anarchist painter who famously had a bare-breasted sword fight with her female lover in a public park.

— New York Times, "Lauren Groff: By the Book," 24 May 2018
For women, the titles are: duchess, marchioness, countess, viscountess, and baroness.

— lisa ryan, The Cut, "All About Prince Harry’s Hot Cousin, Louis Spencer," 23 May 2018
The Queen can choose from five titles for a man -- duke, marquess, earl, viscount or baron -- and for a woman -- duchess, marchioness, countess, viscountess and baroness.

— angela dewan, CNN, "Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Harry and Meghan's new titles," 19 May 2018
The countess attended the wedding ceremony of her sister-in-law, Princess Stéphanie, to Prince Guillaume, heir apparent to the throne of Luxembourg, in this swooped masterpiece.

— jordan amchin, Vanities, "The Most Memorable, Bizarre, and Fetching Fascinators in Recent History," 17 May 2018
Poirot agrees to investigate the murder, along with the train's first-class compartment full of characters, ranging from a Russian princess to a gorgeous young countess.

— cnt editors, Condé Nast Traveler, "The 45 Best Travel Films of All Time," 11 May 2018
Her father follows her there, tells her to never change, and eventually marries her mother, Libby, making her a countess and their daughter a lady in waiting.

— kate stanhope, latimes.com, "Accidentally royal: 11 films to watch before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's big day," 9 May 2018
The renowned poet and lover Lord Byron left a trail of besotted countesses passed out on swooning couches from his birth in 1788 in England until his death in Greece, 36 years later.

— ben widdicombe, Town & Country, "An Unofficial History of Rich Women and Their Diets," 10 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'countess.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of countess

12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Foreign Functionary Terms

count, despot, emir, wardrobe, yeoman

COUNTESS Defined for English Language Learners

countess

noun

Definition of countess for English Language Learners

: the wife of a count or an earl
: a woman who has the rank of count or earl

COUNTESS Defined for Kids

countess

noun count·ess \ ˈkau̇n-təs \

Definition of countess for Students

1 : the wife or widow of a count or an earl

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

Learn More about countess

Spanish Central: Translation of countess Nglish: Translation of countess for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about countess

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countess

Definition of countess

Recent Examples of countess from the Web

First Known Use of countess

Other Foreign Functionary Terms

COUNTESS Defined for English Language Learners

countess

Definition of countess for English Language Learners

COUNTESS Defined for Kids

countess

Definition of countess for Students

Learn More about countess

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Recent Examples of countess from the Web

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COUNTESS Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of countess for English Language Learners

COUNTESS Defined for Kids

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Definition of countess for Students

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