duchess

noun

duch·​ess ˈdə-chəs 

1

: the wife or widow of a duke

2

: a woman who holds the rank of duke in her own right

Examples of duchess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Griffiths mentioned reports that the duchess really wanted to visit the Althorp estate near Birmingham, the ancestral home of the late Princess Diana where she also is buried. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 9 July 2026

The duchess won the legal case and undisclosed damages over articles published in The Mail on Sunday and posted on MailOnline. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 7 July 2026

Her students were primarily Parisian royalty (Igor’s half-sister, French actor Odile Versois, married Count François Reynier Ambroise Henri Pozzo di Borgo), with their lessons inside the duchess’ palace. — Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026

She was born on August 3, 1986, in Monaco, and got her name from her duchess great-grandmother, Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois. — Staff Author, InStyle, 23 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English duchesse, from Anglo-French, from duc duke

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing duchess

• grand duchess

Rhymes for duchess

• duchesse
• archduchess

Kids Definition

duchess

noun

duch·​ess ˈdəch-əs 

1

: the wife or widow of a duke

2

: a woman holding the rank of duke in her own right