demimondaine

noun

demi·​mon·​daine ˌde-mi-ˌmän-ˈdān 

-ˈmän-ˌdān,

ˌde-mē-

: a woman supported by a wealthy lover : a woman of the demimonde

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The object of Christian’s adoration is Satine, a nightclub chanteuse and demimondaine, almost past her prime and riddled with consumption. —Ben Brantley, New York Times, 25 July 2019

Rather than a consistent narrative style, Phillips shapes the prose to reflect the stages of her life, from the powerless demimondaine to the outspoken feminist writer. —Joan Gaylord, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

French demi-mondaine, from feminine of demi-mondain, from demi-monde

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above