leading lady

noun

: an actress who plays the leading female role

Examples of leading lady 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 skincare doyenne praised by such leading ladies as Jessica Alba, Kelly Rowland and Shay Mitchell, Shani Darden delivers taut, porcelain-like skin with her signature facial—a blend of light chemical peels, oxygen therapy, and microcurrent. Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025 When the fair’s bank account is unexpectedly drained, Gwen returns to discovers that her father, Johnny, is retiring and leaving the business 50-50 to Gwen and her sister, Kate, the fair’s longtime leading lady who resents Gwen’s presence. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025 So two decades of my leading lady years were taken away from me by that horrible person — who did so much worse to other people. Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025 Craig's restaurant in Los Angeles The three lovely leading ladies of Friends put their real-life friendship on display with a night out in Los Angeles in 2014. Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leading lady

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leading lady was in 1860

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Cite this Entry

“Leading lady.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leading%20lady. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

leading lady

noun
: an actress who plays the leading female role in a play or movie

More from Merriam-Webster on leading lady

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