plural maidens
old-fashioned + literary
: a young girl or woman who is not married
a story about a courageous knight who rescues a fair maiden
a maiden in distress
always used before a noun
1
of a woman, old-fashioned
: not married
my maiden aunt
2
: coming before all others : first or earliest
the ship's maiden voyage
the maiden issue of a new magazine
a politician giving his maiden speech in the Senate
Cite this Entry
“Maiden.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/maiden. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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