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.
During the conversation, the leading ladies opened up about the importance of Black women in entertainment and how motherhood impacts their career. Kayla Grant, People.com, 18 June 2025 Vita was also there in August of 1975 when leading lady Verdon left the show for five weeks for throat surgery and Liza Minnelli became her understudy. Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025 The leading ladies were among the many stars of the stage who showed up Sunday for the 78th Annual Tony Awards, which saw nearly three dozen Broadway shows nominated across 26 different categories. Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 9 June 2025 Late Night With Deborah Vance may be no more, but Hacks’ leading lady isn’t ready to lay down and die — no matter what that TMZ obituary says! Nick Caruso, TVLine, 29 May 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 29 Jun. 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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