lady

noun

ˈlā-dē How to pronounce lady (audio)
Definition of ladynext
1
as in woman
an adult female human being "ladies and gentlemen, please observe closely," said the magician

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2
as in wife
a female partner in a marriage in public the husband was frequently seen holding hands with his lady

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3
as in countess
a woman of high birth or social position the ladies of the royal court were all dressed extravagantly

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4
as in girlfriend
a female romantic companion when do we get to meet your new lady?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lady Gu-cheon is arrogant, conspicuously misplaced in the palace hierarchy, and in some sneaky ways, dryly funny, in stark contrast to co-star Roh Yoon Seo’s more determined, earnest portrayal of court lady Saeng Gang. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 All three ladies star in Ryan Murphy’s anthology series, American Horror Story, with season 13 set to return to FX this fall. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026 His absence follows news of him and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, welcoming their fourth child on Sunday. — Fritz Farrow, ABC News, 25 July 2026 Lady criminals take advantage of this illegibility for their own gain—unlike lady detectives, who are preoccupied with solving crimes, helping others, and restoring justice. — Literary Hub, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for lady
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lady
  1. woman
  2. wife
  3. countess
  4. girlfriend
  5. female
  6. queen
  7. girl
  8. duchess
Noun
  • So anyone and anything can become a stand-in for their outrage, even if the target didn’t do anything to hurt any of us, like the random woman who got death threats after she was caught on cam with her boss at a Coldplay concert.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Videos on Iranian social media showed many women at the cafes flouting mandatory veiling laws, and crowds mixing freely.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of woman
Noun
  • Democrats have seen a new opportunity in his northeast Ohio congressional seat as the Republican incumbent has faced mounting pressure over the domestic abuse allegations in a bitter and drawn-out custody battle with his ex wife.
    — Mary Clare Jalonick, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
  • After shuttering some five decades later, the land was largely vacant until the former mayor of Seattle, Paul Schell, and his wife, Pam, built their dream hotel from the ground up.
    — Katie Nanton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of wife
Noun
  • Where foreign adventurers once brought conflict to Costa Rica’s coast, a European countess left behind a sanctuary of profound peace.
    — Donna Hardie-Scott, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Jarman and Karen Spencer were previously embroiled in legal proceedings after the archeologist sued the countess in 2024, People and The Times reported.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 19 May 2026
Definition of countess
Noun
  • Johnson created the story of Nancy (Emilia Jones), who is not a girlfriend, but a crush who Bourdain foolhardily (and under false pretenses) follows to Provincetown after not getting a writing fellowship.
    — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Sheila Kuehl played Zelda Gilroy, Dobie’s smart and confident classmate and eventual girlfriend.
    — Sophie Clausen, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of girlfriend
Noun
  • Operating as a solitary female among hundreds of men, her historical reality directly informs our current mission.
    — Stefano Marrone, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • The driver is a 17-year-old male, and the victim is a 17-year-old female who is believed to have serious injuries.
    — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 31 July 2026
Definition of female
Noun
  • Spotting white bugs on your hibiscus, that tropical queen of the patio, can put a damper on your gardening efforts.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In addition to this year's king and queen, Monroe Edwards was named the 2026 Bud Billiken Crown Princess.
    — Shardaa Gray, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of queen
Noun
  • The first murder is a girl slicing into her slumbering mother’s neck with a hacksaw; then her brother pounds his father’s face in with a baseball bat.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Flanked by hydrangea bushes, this charming Cape Cod-style cottage is the perfect spot for a bachelorette weekend or girls’ trip.
    — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of girl
Noun
  • But that’s not what made the duchess decide to hit back publicly by having an anonymous member of her team leak a statement to People and other media outlets.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Another image shows the duchess as a young girl sitting crossed legged on the bed, her hair styled into braids.
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of duchess

Phrases Containing lady

Browse Nearby Words

lads
lady
lady-in-waiting
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Cite this Entry

“Lady.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lady. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lady

Nglish: Translation of lady for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lady

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