debutante

noun

deb·​u·​tante ˈde-byu̇-ˌtänt How to pronounce debutante (audio)
: one making a debut (see debut entry 1) : debutant
especially : a young woman making her formal entrance into society

Examples of debutante in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Four previous champions and two debutantes are among the 16 teams that will be competing for Libertadores glory in October. Neel Shelat, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 The Buccaneers creator on inevitable Bridgerton comparisons: 'The whole point is the culture clash' Based on Edith Wharton's posthumous 1937 novel of the same name, The Buccaneers follows a group of young American women navigating debutante culture in 1870s London. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 1 Oct. 2024 According to tradition, debutante balls are designed to introduce young ladies to polite society. Peter Debruge, Variety, 15 Sep. 2024 In particular, Maeve bemoans the annual debutante ball, which Taylah dreams of attending. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for debutante 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'debutante.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French débutante, feminine of débutant — see debutant

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of debutante was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near debutante

Cite this Entry

“Debutante.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debutante. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

debutante

noun
deb·​u·​tante ˈdeb-yu̇-ˌtänt How to pronounce debutante (audio)
: a young woman making her debut
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!