leading lady

noun

Synonyms of leading ladynext
: 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.
Yet there’s also a lot of love in the doc, particularly in the generous passages that explore his friendship with Reiner (who died in 2020) and his singular bond with second wife and sometime leading lady Anne Bancroft, who’s been gone for more than two decades. Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026 The show may change the happily ever afters of both leading ladies in Season 5 and Season 6, deviating from the Bridgerton books. Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026 The leading lady is murdered, and Detective Frank Cioffi has to solve the mystery while her show tries to continue. Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026 Bridgerton has found its new leading lady in Sophie Baek. Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 29 Jan. 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leading lady.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leading%20lady. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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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