leading lady

noun

: an actress who plays the leading female role

Examples of leading lady in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Off Campus’ leading lady Hannah Wells asks her hockey playing beau Garrett Graham in the second episode of the soap romance drama. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026

Judd Apatow’s hit 2007 comedy about an unplanned pregnancy leading to unexpected romance almost had a different leading lady. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026

LaPlaca also reveals she was seriously considered to become the Bachelorette herself — a twist that nearly turned the longtime producer into the franchise’s leading lady. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026

This portrayal was rare in the early 2000s and prompted a shift in audience expectations, as people began to consider the different ways a leading lady could, or should, look. — Karla Cote, Variety, 15 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for leading lady

• arcady
• landlady
• cady
• shady
• zaidi

Kids Definition

leading lady

noun

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