debutante

noun

deb·​u·​tante ˈde-byu̇-ˌtänt How to pronounce debutante (audio)
Synonyms of debutantenext
: one making a debut (see debut entry 1) : debutant
especially : a young woman making her formal entrance into society

Examples of debutante 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.
The event is at the heart of a sprawling legal battle, playing out across different fronts in Los Angeles and Australia, overshadowing The Deb, a feel-good movie about outback teens attending a debutante ball. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026 In Black Atlanta communities, debutante balls like last weekend’s Pink Cultured Pearls Cotillion showcase excellence and elegance. Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 8 Apr. 2026 But, by the beginning of the Gilded Age in America in the 1870s, the sartorial code became the upper class’s go-to for the opera, debutante balls, and any of the fancy-dress parties thrown by socialites of the day. Vogue, 27 Mar. 2026 Several players, from 19-year-old Indian Wells debutante Victoria Mboko of Canada to 45-year-old Williams, who first competed here 30 years ago in 1996, have already gotten a taste during the tournament’s opening days. Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for debutante

Word History

Etymology

French débutante, feminine of débutant — see debutant

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of debutante was in 1801

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Debutante.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debutante. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

debutante

noun
deb·​u·​tante ˈdeb-yu̇-ˌtänt How to pronounce debutante (audio)
: a young woman making her debut

More from Merriam-Webster on debutante

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster