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.
This comes as The Bachelorette was meant to have a triumphant return this year after being parked last year with a big star as the leading lady for the first time. Peter White, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026 In truth, this sociopathic leading lady should be unlikeable. Rebecca Cope, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2026 Of course, the identity of next season’s leading lady can’t be revealed just yet. Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 3 Mar. 2026 To find his leading lady, Preminger embarked on a nationwide search and personally auditioned thousands of would-be Joans before landing on Jean Seberg, an 18-year old from Iowa whose acting experience was limited to high school plays. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 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 23 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

leading lady

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

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