First Lady

noun

variants or first lady

plural First Ladies or first ladies

1

: the wife or female partner of the chief executive of a country or jurisdiction

It is a reminder of just how peculiar the role of First Lady is in American public life. She has a job with no salary, a platform with no power, an East Wing filled with staff but no budget.

—Jonathan Van Meter

As a supermodel, singer-songwriter, and former first lady of France, no one has had a career quite like Carla Bruni. Since her husband, Nicolas Sarkozy, left office in 2012, Bruni has focused on her music.

—Janelle Okwodu

also : someone who is not the wife or female partner of a chief executive but who fulfills the public duties of a First Lady

Unique among First Ladies, Harriet Lane acted as hostess for the only President who never married: James Buchanan, her favorite uncle and her guardian after she was orphaned at the age of eleven.

—Allida Black

2

: the leading woman of an art or profession

Back before Mobb Deep, before the whole Juice Crew, the first MC to blow up big out of the Bridge was hip hop's universally recognized First Lady, Roxanne Shanté.

—Sacha Jenkins

Carolyn Wells is the first lady of barbecue—alongside her late husband Gary Wells and friend Rick Welch, the three founded the Kansas City Barbeque Society in 1986.

—Damian Dominguez

Examples of First Lady in a Sentence

The President and the First Lady attended the concert.

the first lady of American dance

Recent Examples on the Web

On Tuesday, First Lady Jill Biden met with the Adler Family. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 18 May 2024

On Wednesday, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited Ella's family to pay her condolences, per the outlet. —Samira Asma-Sadeque, Peoplemag, 15 May 2024

Notably absent is Melania Trump, the former First Lady, who is yet to appear in the courthouse. —Nik Popli, TIME, 14 May 2024

Prison staff intercepted letters in June that Stephen Boykin tried to mail while he was incarcerated, which included death threats against Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, federal prosecutors said. —Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 14 May 2024

The White House has confirmed that President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Ruto and his wife, First Lady Racheo Ruto, for a state visit on May 23 to mark the 60th anniversary of U.S.-Kenya diplomatic relations. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 May 2024

Vreeland is known for getting more celebrities involved in the event, like First Lady Jackie Kennedy, who served as a co-chair from 1977 to 1978. —Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 1 May 2024

The event, which celebrated the life and music of Cline — who died in a plane crash in March 1963 at age 30 — also included opening remarks by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. —Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024

Get The Recipe 06 of 40 Rosalynn Carter's Cheese Ring Celebrate Mama with a favorite recipe of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

first lady

noun

often capitalized F&L

: the wife, female partner, or hostess of the chief executive of a country or jurisdiction