prima donna

noun

pri·​ma don·​na ˌpri-mə-ˈdä-nə 

ˌprē-

plural prima donnas

1

: a principal female singer in an opera or concert organization

2

: a vain or undisciplined person who finds it difficult to work under direction or as part of a team

Examples of prima donna in a Sentence

The actress is a temperamental prima donna.

We are looking for team players, not prima donnas.

Recent Examples on the Web

Gothic gargoyles appeared, lights dimmed, and the crowd chanted the prima donna’s name at the desert operahouse. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2025

Gotta love it, in a league with its share of fair weather, prima donna stars. —Eric Nehm, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025

They will be joined on set by members of the Opéra Garnier ballet company including its principal dancer Dorothée Gilbert, who will play the prima donna dancer in the film, Victoire Bellanger. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 Feb. 2025

His character, Min-ho, initially comes off as a bit of a prima donna. —Joan MacDonald, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, first lady

First Known Use

1754, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prima donna

• avifauna
• hinayana
• macrofauna
• mahayana
• majorana
• marianna
• marihuana
• marijuana
• microfauna
• ana
• bwana
• dhyana

Kids Definition

prima donna

noun

pri·​ma don·​na ˌprim-ə-ˈdän-ə 

ˌprē-mə-

plural prima donnas

1

: a principal female singer in an opera or concert organization

2

: a person who is easily hurt or upset or is stuck-up

Etymology

Italian, literally, "first lady"; prima from Latin prima, a feminine form of primus "first," donna from Latin domina "lady, mistress," a feminine form of dominus "master" — related to dame, prime