grande dame

noun

plural grandes dames ˈgrän-ˈdäm(z) How to pronounce grande dame (audio) also grande dames ˈgrän-ˈdäm(z) How to pronounce grande dame (audio)
1
: a usually elderly woman of great prestige or ability
2

Examples of grande dame in a Sentence

the city's grandes dames still hold considerable sway in its cultural life
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 grande dame of Alto Adige chardonnay. Devin Parr, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025 And who can resist a visit to Asheville’s grande dame, the Biltmore Estate? Shayla Martin, AFAR Media, 28 Aug. 2025 Often considered the grande dame of all engineering disciplines, mechanical engineering represents the broadest and most versatile field. Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2025 Some are centuries-old grande dames; others are boutique newcomers. Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 28 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for grande dame

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, great lady

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grande dame was in 1775

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Cite this Entry

“Grande dame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grande%20dame. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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