madam

noun mad·am \ ˈma-dəm \

Definition of madam

plural madams

1 plural mesdames play \mā-ˈdäm, -ˈdam\ :lady —used without a name as a form of respectful or polite address to a woman

Right this way, madam.

2 :mistress 1 —used as a title formerly with the given name but now with the surname or especially with a designation of rank or office

Madam Chairman

Madam President

3 :the female head of a house of prostitution

4 :the female head of a household :wife

every once in a while the madam and I will order a book that we've read about
—H. S. Truman

See madam defined for English-language learners

See madam defined for kids

Examples of madam in a Sentence

the madam and I are planning to go out for a nice dinner on our anniversary

Recent Examples of madam from the Web

Indiana madam may have inspired famous song DOYEL: And so begins the NFL plague of biblical proportions — Colts preseason The Colts commissioned artist Ryan Feeney, who owns Indy Art Forge, to build the statue.

— domenica bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, "Fall Arts Preview: What will the long-awaited Peyton Manning statue look like? Here's what we know," 26 Aug. 2017
In 1930s China, a Wing Chun master is caught between a martial arts grandmaster, an underworld madam and the military.

— chris foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "New on DVD this week: 'The Circle,' 'Colossal,' 'The Lovers' and more," 1 Aug. 2017
MADAM PRESIDENT Annette Bening, our First Lady of eyeglasses and smart turtlenecks, is ready to serve as the next president of the Venice Film Festival jury.

— yohana desta, vanityfair.com, "Annette Bening for President," 5 July 2017
MADAM PRESIDENT Annette Bening, our First Lady of eyeglasses and smart turtlenecks, is ready to serve as the next president of the Venice Film Festival jury.

— yohana desta, HWD, "Annette Bening for President," 5 July 2017
The madams enjoyed unprecedented status as influential businesswomen, community leaders and philanthropists, while elsewhere a growing aversion to the sex trade drove red-light districts underground.

— idahostatesman, "Idaho authors pen books on nature and the world’s oldest profession," 9 June 2017
Taub focusses on the role that intimidation from madams or human traffickers—often in the form of juju rituals—plays in keeping women in prostitution.

— david sedaris, The New Yorker, "The Mail," 14 Apr. 2017
The show focuses primarily on Morton’s madam, Margaret Well, and her two daughters.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Why You’ve Never Seen Anything Like Hulu’s Harlots Before," 6 Apr. 2017
But the showdown between the two madams at the playhouse where Emily’s virginity is being auctioned is disappointingly brief.

— viv groskop, Newsweek, "Review: New Drama Series 'Harlots' Takes on the Oldest Profession in Riotous Fashion," 21 Mar. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of madam

Middle English, from Anglo-French ma dame, literally, my lady

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

madam Synonyms

Synonyms

helpmate, helpmeet, lady, little woman, wife, missus (or missis), Mrs., old lady, wifey, woman [chiefly dialect]

Related Words

bride; better half, companion, consort, mate, partner, significant other, soul mate, spouse; dowager, matron; hausfrau, homemaker, housekeeper, housewife, stay-at-home; widow

Other Forms of Address Terms

appellation, beatitude, brethren, emeritus, esquire, sire, sous

MADAM Defined for English Language Learners

madam

noun

Definition of madam for English Language Learners

—used to politely speak to a woman who you do not know
Madam —used at the start of a formal letter to a woman whose name you do not know
Madam —used when you are speaking to a woman who has a high rank or position

MADAM Defined for Kids

madam

noun mad·am \ ˈma-dəm \

Definition of madam for Students

plural mesdames \mā-ˈdäm, -ˈdam\

—used without a name as a form of polite address to a woman

May I help you, madam?

Headscratcher for madam

The word madam is spelled the same forwards and backwards. It is also part of a well-known phrase that is also spelled the same forwards and backwards: “Madam, I'm Adam.”