debutante

noun

deb·u·tante | \ ˈde-byu̇-ˌtänt

Definition of debutante

: 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

The general sat between the twins at one end of the table, while the matronly Holly, a former debutante who graduated summa cum laude from Dickinson College (and whose father was the superintendent of West Point), was seated at the other end. — Vicky Ward, Town & Country, "The Bizarre Scandal That Brought Down General David Petraeus," 29 Nov. 2016 The newspaper described the once captivating debutante launched a successful career as a model at age 17. — Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, "Jackie Kennedy Onassis was 'horrified' of recluse aunt, cousin living in crumbling Grey Gardens, book claims," 12 Sep. 2018 But bankers and analysts said many of the biggest potential market debutantes would likely sit on the sidelines for another year, having already raised enormous sums in the private markets. — Michael J. De La Merced, New York Times, "Dropbox Is Said to Be Planning to Go Public This Year," 11 Jan. 2018 After the last debutante made her way around the floor, the young ladies did an in-unison curtsy, followed by the first dance with fathers or family escorts to music from Deacon John, who played for the rest of the night. — Sue Strachan, NOLA.com, "Mid-Winter Cotillion presents 20 debutantes in 2017," 6 Jan. 2018 Club debutantes and members also waltzed, with members then waltzing with their wives or dates. — Sue Strachan, NOLA.com, "Kaitlyn August honored an 'Arabian Nights'-themed party," 3 Feb. 2018 These were not the leaps of imagination friends and family might have expected decades ago from Dorothy Quincy Warren, a debutante who was known to all as Doffie. — Bryan Marquard, BostonGlobe.com, "Doffie Arnold, an artist whose canvases sparkled with energy, dies at 94," 6 July 2018 The Group G contenders touched down in St Petersburg on Tuesday afternoon when with Southgate's men set to take on Tunisia in their opening match, before facing debutantes Panama and 2014 quarter finalists Belgium. — SI.com, "Gareth Southgate Confirms Marcus Rashford Has Sustained an Injury Ahead of the World Cup," 12 June 2018 Shannon Harvey, co-chair, shared that the girls who are involved to the ball today are called honorees rather than debutantes. — Alyssa Alfano, cleveland.com, "60th Medina County Leadership Ball to celebrate students," 20 Feb. 2018

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