as in lady
a woman of high birth or social position
in the 19th century a number of American gentlewomen used their wealth and influence to further abolitionism, women's rights, and other worthy causes
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Recent Examples of gentlewoman
Social status and fashion conspired to make gentlewomen’s footwear of every sort flimsy.
—
Literary Hub, 4 Aug. 2025
The novelists’ parents were Patrick and Maria Brontë, an Irish clergyman and a Cornish gentlewoman who married in 1812.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
But Mary declined, preferring an informal gentlewoman’s agreement instead.
—Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2025
Rep Miller recognized Rep McBride as 'gentleman' and 'Mr.' NOT as 'gentlewoman' and 'Ms.' McBride is a MAN!!!
—Martha McHardy, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
But Mary declined, preferring an informal gentlewoman’s agreement instead.
—Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2025
Maybe Kate can get Parton to hop back across the pond to play a few songs and, as a real Southern gentlewoman, teach those rather provincial Brits how to properly serve tea.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2023
In the north, Solomon knew, young oblates, the cherished daughters of gentlewomen, were given to the Lord out of the ranks of the nobility.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
One of his stories is about a Southern gentlewoman who keeps her dead fiance’s corpse in her bed.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023
Literary Hub, 4 Aug. 2025
The novelists’ parents were Patrick and Maria Brontë, an Irish clergyman and a Cornish gentlewoman who married in 1812.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
But Mary declined, preferring an informal gentlewoman’s agreement instead.
—Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2025
Rep Miller recognized Rep McBride as 'gentleman' and 'Mr.' NOT as 'gentlewoman' and 'Ms.' McBride is a MAN!!!
—Martha McHardy, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
But Mary declined, preferring an informal gentlewoman’s agreement instead.
—Sarah Holzmann, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2025
Maybe Kate can get Parton to hop back across the pond to play a few songs and, as a real Southern gentlewoman, teach those rather provincial Brits how to properly serve tea.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2023
In the north, Solomon knew, young oblates, the cherished daughters of gentlewomen, were given to the Lord out of the ranks of the nobility.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
One of his stories is about a Southern gentlewoman who keeps her dead fiance’s corpse in her bed.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentlewoman
Noun
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Ashley Biden, the daughter of former President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, filed for divorce from her husband Dr. Howard Krein on Monday, Aug. 11, according to court records.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
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Just as her holiday home had to be seen to be believed, so also did this beautiful Christmas lady whose bright light brought so much joy to the world.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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When Albrecht’s true identity is revealed by Hilarion, the peasant boy who loves her, and that Albrecht is already engaged to a countess, Giselle dies of heartbreak.—
Tom Teicholz,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
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Louise Brooks wooed a father and son as well as a countess in a tuxedo.—
Betsy Golden Kellem,
JSTOR Daily,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
While Jon is bound to leadership by a sense of duty, Daenerys sees herself as a liberator, a queen steeped in moral righteousness who freed slaves across the sea for the greater good.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
14 July 2017
-
THE TRENDSETTER Salt & Straw is the homecoming queen of ice cream in LA.—
Cole Kazdin,
Los Angeles Magazine,
14 July 2017
Cite this Entry
“Gentlewoman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentlewoman. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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