maiden

1 of 2

noun

maid·​en ˈmā-dᵊn 

1

: an unmarried girl or woman : maid

2

: a former Scottish beheading device resembling the guillotine (see guillotine sense 1)

3

: a horse that has never won a race

maiden

2 of 2

adjective

1

a(1)

: not married

a maiden aunt

(2)

: virgin

b of a female animal

(1)

: never yet mated

(2)

: never having borne young

2

: of, relating to, or befitting a maiden

3

: first, earliest

a ship's maiden voyage

the maiden flight of a spacecraft

Synonyms

Noun

• girl
• maid

Adjective

• first
• initial
• inaugural
• original
• foremost
• earliest

Examples of maiden in a Sentence

Noun

a story about a courageous knight who rescues a fair maiden

a story about a beautiful maiden and her mysterious father

Adjective

the maiden issue of a new magazine

a politician giving his maiden speech in the Senate

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Civil Liberty was the only maiden in the field and was listed at 30-1 on the morning line. —Jay Posner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Oct. 2025

As well, Lainey Wilson makes her maiden headlining appearance at Bridgestone Arena a day later. —Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean, 27 Sep. 2025

Adjective

The 261-foot superyacht just left Damen Yachting’s Vlissingen facility in the Netherlands to embark on her maiden voyage, according to a press release shared on Wednesday. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2025

Star Seeker’s maiden season includes departures through Central America, Alaska, and Japan. —Stacey Zable, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English, from Old English mægden, mǣden, diminutive of mægeth; akin to Old High German magad maiden, Old Irish mug serf

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing maiden

• iron maiden
• maiden name
• sea-maiden

Rhymes for maiden

• laden
• maidan
• handmaiden
• menhaden
• unladen

Kids Definition

maiden

1 of 2 noun

maid·​en ˈmād-ᵊn 

: a young unmarried girl or woman

maidenhood

-ˌhu̇d

noun

maidenly

-lē

adjective

maiden

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: not married

maiden aunt

b

: virgin entry 2 sense 1

2

: of or relating to a maiden

3

: coming before all others : first, earliest

maiden voyage