maiden

1 of 2

noun

maid·​en ˈmā-dᵊn 

1

old-fashioned + literary : an unmarried girl or woman : maid

2

: a former Scottish beheading device resembling the guillotine (see guillotine sense 1)

3

: a horse that has never won a race

maiden

2 of 2

adjective

1

a of a woman, dated

(1)

: not married

a maiden aunt

(2)

: virgin

b of a female animal

(1)

: never yet mated

(2)

: never having borne young

2

: of, relating to, or befitting a maiden

3

: first, earliest

a ship's maiden voyage

the maiden flight of a spacecraft

Synonyms of maiden

Noun

• girl
• maid

Adjective

• first
• initial
• inaugural
• original
• foremost
• earliest

Examples of maiden in a Sentence

Noun

a story about a courageous knight who rescues a fair maiden

a story about a beautiful maiden and her mysterious father

Adjective

the maiden issue of a new magazine

a politician giving his maiden speech in the Senate

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The 24-year-old American is trying to become the first player since Craig Perks in 2002 to win in his Players Championship debut, and the first to make The Players his maiden career title on this tour since Tim Clark 16 years ago. —Justin Ray, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2026

The 2026 Miss Smiling Irish Eyes is Molly McKenna, and the court maidens Kennedy Kuntz and Sidney Hoover. —Patrick Damp, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Odisea departed Germany on Friday, March 13, for her maiden voyage. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2026

Macario’s experience as a European champion with Lyon was supposed to help Chelsea over the line to a maiden Champions League title. —Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English, from Old English mægden, mǣden, diminutive of mægeth; akin to Old High German magad maiden, Old Irish mug serf

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing maiden

• iron maiden
• maiden name
• sea-maiden

Rhymes for maiden

• laden
• maidan
• handmaiden
• menhaden
• unladen

Kids Definition

maiden

1 of 2 noun

maid·​en ˈmād-ᵊn 

: a young unmarried girl or woman

maidenhood

-ˌhu̇d

noun

maidenly

-lē

adjective

maiden

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: not married

maiden aunt

b

: virgin entry 2 sense 1

2

: of or relating to a maiden

3

: coming before all others : first, earliest

maiden voyage