leading lady

noun

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of leading lady

: an actress who plays the leading female role

See leading lady defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of leading lady from the Web

Kufrin said about becoming ABC’s newest leading lady.

— natalie stone, PEOPLE.com, "Catherine Giudici Lowe Reacts to After the Final Rose: 'I May Vomit Up My Vegan Ice Cream'," 6 Mar. 2018
Video provided by Reuters Newslook NEW DELHI — Sridevi, Bollywood's leading lady of the 1980s and '90s who redefined stardom for actresses in India, has died at age 54.

— muneeza naqvi, USA TODAY, "Sridevi, beloved Bollywood star, has died at 54," 25 Feb. 2018
And this tour boasts an exceedingly strong cast — from leading lady Desi Oakley to cute-as-a-button Ella Grace Helton, a 5-year-old Central Floridian who has a cameo.

— matthew j. palm, OrlandoSentinel.com, "In 'Waitress,' tasty performances spice up familiar fodder," 21 Mar. 2018
After all, this is the film that gave us the beer-guzzling, thug-punching, rain-dancing Manju, one of Bollywood’s cutest, angriest, and most transgressive leading ladies.

— deepanjana pal, The Atlantic, "How Bollywood's Sridevi Should Be Remembered," 1 Mar. 2018
While the plot delves into deeper issues of addiction, depression and drama, the wardrobe of the leading ladies features a pastel palette, mini skirts, '60s bouffant hair and baby doll dresses.

— lauren alexis fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "The '60s Films That Every Fashion Girl Should Watch," 27 Jan. 2015
Sridevi Kapoor was Bollywood’s leading lady of the 1980s and ’90s and redefined stardom for actresses in India.

— kansascity, "Final Chapters for March 4, 2018: Lewis Gilbert, Sridevi Kapoor, Bud Luckey | The Kansas City Star," 7 Mar. 2018
Glossier's newest eye product could be seen glimmering on the lids of several leading ladies, including Allison Janney and Tracee Ellis Ross.

— lisa desantis, Health.com, "These 7 Actresses Wore the Same Exact Eyeshadow to the Oscars," 4 Mar. 2018
Conventionally, Bollywood leading ladies sought to woo heroes and audiences with their beauty and virtue.

— deepanjana pal, The Atlantic, "How Bollywood's Sridevi Should Be Remembered," 1 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'leading lady.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.