lady-in-waiting

noun

la·​dy-in-wait·​ing ˈlā-dē-in-ˈwā-tiŋ How to pronounce lady-in-waiting (audio)
plural ladies-in-waiting
: a lady of a queen's or a princess's household appointed to wait on her

Examples of lady-in-waiting in a Sentence

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 Queen and her sister are known to be close, with Annabel serving as both a coronation attendant and a Queen's Companion, a more modern form of lady-in-waiting. Janine Henni, People.com, 14 May 2025 The highlight is a room housing exceptional creations including the court cloak with a sweeping train worn by Franca Florio, the wife of a Sicilian businessman and shipowner, when she was appointed lady-in-waiting to Italy’s Queen Elena in 1902. Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 7 May 2025 Katharine spent years languishing as a lady-in-waiting to a lady-in-waiting. Eva Wolchover, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025 Captured in the image is the late Queen Elizabeth and her lady-in-waiting, Lady Pamela Hicks, loyally by her side as the royal navigated her new role on the world stage. Simon Perry, People.com, 4 Oct. 2024 The Lady Grace Mysteries tells the story of Lady Grace Cavendish, an orphan raised to be a lady-in-waiting at the royal court of Queen Elizabeth I, who becomes the world’s first female teenage detective. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 Other fan-familiar characters include Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser (Jamie’s godfather and Brian’s cousin, played by Rory Alexander) and Mrs. Fitz (Ellen’s lady-in-waiting and Murtagh’s mother, played by Sally Messham). Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2025 But while many ladies-in-waiting suffered as their queens fell out of favor, Jane has the distinction of being the only one to lose her actual head. Eva Wolchover, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025 Captured in the image is the late Queen Elizabeth and her lady-in-waiting, Lady Pamela Hicks, loyally by her side as the royal navigated her new role on the world stage. Simon Perry, People.com, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lady-in-waiting was in 1703

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Cite this Entry

“Lady-in-waiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lady-in-waiting. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

lady-in-waiting

noun
la·​dy-in-wait·​ing
ˌlād-ē-in-ˈwāt-iŋ
plural ladies-in-waiting
: a lady appointed to attend or wait on a queen or princess

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