duchess

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

duchesse

2 of 2

noun (2)

du·​chesse

(ˈ)d(y)ü¦shes

plural -s

1

: a chaise longue with arms that was popular in 18th century France

2

or less commonly duchess : a fine lustrous rayon or silk satin for clothing

3

: a very small cream puff with sweet or savory filling used as dessert or served with cocktails

Examples of duchess in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The duchess wore a design by the Canadian brand Greta Constantine. — Valentine Ulgu-Servant, Vanity Fair, 10 Aug. 2026

But that’s not what made the duchess decide to hit back publicly by having an anonymous member of her team leak a statement to People and other media outlets. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026

Another image shows the duchess as a young girl sitting crossed legged on the bed, her hair styled into braids. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital the attention surrounding Markle's appearance, whether positive or negative, could ultimately benefit both the duchess and the cooking competition. — Ashley Hume , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

French, literally, duchess

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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