maiden

noun maid·en \ ˈmā-dᵊn \

Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of maiden

1 : an unmarried girl or woman : maid

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

3 : a horse that has never won a race

See maiden defined for English-language learners

See maiden defined for kids

Examples of maiden in a Sentence

a story about a courageous knight who rescues a fair maiden
a story about a beautiful maiden and her mysterious father

Recent Examples of maiden from the Web

In a surprising turn of events, the Met Gala’s theme of Catholicism turned out to be quite robust, with celebrities transforming for the night into virginal saints, weeping Mary statues, and celestial maidens.

— kathleen hou, The Cut, "The Best (and Worst) Met Gala Beauty Looks," 7 May 2018
One of my buddies received a call four days prior to the race in which Justify broke his maiden.

— andrew joseph, For The Win, "How one bettor's $500 bet on Justify to win the Kentucky Derby turned into $150K," 6 May 2018
Lone Sailor broke his maiden on a sloppy track at Saratoga last September.

— jeff duncan, NOLA.com, "Justify is early betting favorite for potentially wet Kentucky Derby 2018," 5 May 2018
Always Dreaming didn’t break his maiden until last January.

— dan wolken, USA TODAY, "Three big storylines heading into Kentucky Derby week," 29 Apr. 2018
The first is that the day derives from Lupercalia, a raucous Roman festival on February 15 where men stripped naked and spanked young maidens in hopes of upping their fertility.

— kathleen davis, Woman's Day, "12 Things You Didn't Know About Valentine's Day," 8 Jan. 2018
In one especially striking moment, ensemble member María Ascensión Leigh instantly transforms from earnest servant to hair-twirling, lips-pursing maiden, just by donning a magenta pleather jacket.

— lily janiak, San Francisco Chronicle, "Cutting Ball’s ‘Timon’ makes Shakespeare feel suspenseful," 6 Apr. 2018
In a rediscovered video clip, a young Kate Middleton stars in a school play as a maiden who is told by a fortune teller that her character will marry a rich and handsome man named William.

— morgan m. evans, Fox News, "Kate Middleton's royal future with Prince William predicted in her own high school play," 5 Mar. 2018
For fall, Dolce & Gabbana journeyed to the land of fairy tales, where woodland creatures assist princesses in disguise and maidens are the heroes of their own stories.

— julie kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Pat McGrath's Enchanting Makeup at Dolce & Gabbana," 24 Feb. 2014

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

Origin and Etymology of maiden

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

maiden Synonyms

Synonyms

damsel, demoiselle, girl, maid, miss;

Related Words

virgin;

deb, debutante, ingenue (or ingénue);

filly, lass, lassie, sister;

colleen, mademoiselle, senorita (or señorita);

maiden

adjective

Definition of maiden

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

See maiden defined for English-language learners

Examples of maiden in a Sentence

the maiden issue of a new magazine
a politician giving his maiden speech in the Senate

Recent Examples of maiden from the Web

Today's mission marks the first time SpaceX has returned to Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center following the epic maiden flight of its massive rocket, the Falcon Heavy.

— amy thompson, WIRED, "Watch the New SpaceX Reusable Rocket Make Its Debut," 10 May 2018
Teaming up with the club's foundation, City in the Community (CITC), the Citizens arranged a special launch event ahead of the new kit's maiden outing against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday.

— SI.com, "PHOTOS: Champions Man City Team Up With CITC to Launch New Home Kit Ahead of Brighton Clash," 9 May 2018
The result was the same as their maiden voyage, a Game 4 blowout.

— al saracevic, San Francisco Chronicle, "In the end, the Warriors death lineup killed the Pelicans," 8 May 2018
Allison-Shane, who formerly worked for several lines, has been on more than 100 maiden voyages.

— rosemary mcclure, latimes.com, "You can be part of their maiden voyages," 7 May 2018
SpaceX is poised to launch the maiden flight of a significantly upgraded Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

— robin seemangal, Popular Mechanics, "SpaceX Test-Fires New Falcon 9 Block 5 Rocket Ahead of Maiden Flight (Updated)," 4 May 2018
Starting with his maiden Derby in 2000, his first 24 entries failed to win before Super Saver ended that streak in 2010.

— childs walker, baltimoresun.com, "Like the sun rising in the East, Todd Pletcher is back with four Kentucky Derby contenders," 2 May 2018
Salah has surpassed everybody's expectations in his maiden season at Anfield.

— SI.com, "Dejan Lovren Reveals Why 'Superstar' Salah Can Challenge Messi & Ronaldo for Ballon d'Or," 26 Apr. 2018
The four-page, handwritten missive by Kate Buss is on official Titanic stationery and dated April 10, 1912, the day the liner departed Southampton for its maiden voyage to New York.

— john wilkens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Titanic letter from San Diego-bound passenger fetches almost $35,000 at weekend auction," 24 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of maiden

see ¹maiden

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

See Words from the same year

maiden Synonyms

MAIDEN Defined for English Language Learners

maiden

noun

Definition of maiden for English Language Learners

: a young girl or woman who is not married

maiden

adjective

Definition of maiden for English Language Learners

of a woman : not married
: coming before all others : first or earliest

MAIDEN Defined for Kids

maiden

noun maid·en \ ˈmā-dᵊn \

Definition of maiden for Students

: an unmarried girl or woman

maiden

adjective

Definition of maiden for Students

1 : unmarried

2 : ¹first

This is our maiden voyage to Europe.

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maiden

Definition of maiden

Examples of maiden in a Sentence

Recent Examples of maiden from the Web

Origin and Etymology of maiden

maiden Synonyms

Synonyms

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maiden

Definition of maiden

Examples of maiden in a Sentence

Recent Examples of maiden from the Web

Origin and Etymology of maiden

maiden Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

MAIDEN Defined for English Language Learners

maiden

Definition of maiden for English Language Learners

maiden

Definition of maiden for English Language Learners

MAIDEN Defined for Kids

maiden

Definition of maiden for Students

maiden

Definition of maiden for Students

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