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lady

lady

∞ 1.0
A polite or respectful word for a woman
  • noun
  • /ˈleɪdi/
: señora
  • The lady at the front desk was very helpful during our stay.
  • ladies and gentlemen
  • an old lady
  • a young lady

And without any further ado ladies and gents, let's go.

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Examples

  • It's very clear what the future holds for you, young lady.

  • Then, when I referred to her mother as a lady, I was even more surprised.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And I came out and this, this lady goes, oh, you smell great.

    GQ
  • Now you see these two ladies looking up at the tree.

  • If it were up to me, young lady, you would ask your questions there.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • When we walked in, there was a lady who just started following me and my wife.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention, please?

  • Would someone mind introducing me to the lady?

  • This is the lady I was tellin' you about.

  • It was paid for by the lady.

Synonyms

woman
vslady
∞ 1.0

Adult females considered together as a group

is a polite respectful reference to an individual rather than a group
madam
vslady
  • Formal
399 3.2

A polite way to address a woman in a position of authority

is a general polite reference without implying authority
gal
vslady
  • Informal
285 7.7

A woman or girl said in a friendly, informal way

is a polite respectful expression not casual slang
madame
vslady
  • Formal
265 4.7

A polite title people use for a woman in French, like Mrs

is the English polite term used broadly across contexts
dame
vslady
  • Archaic
60 7.7

An old informal word for a woman often used in films

is a polite respectful form rather than casual or dated speech
m'lady
vslady
  • Archaic
14 9.9

A polite old-fashioned way to speak to a woman of noble rank

is a general polite form not tied to rank or age
marm
vslady
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A polite way to call a woman, like madam

is the common polite term rather than regional dialect

Idioms

1 8.6

To act toward a woman without respect

Compounds

462 1.0

A girl or young woman in her teens to early twenties

301 3.0

The wife of a president or other top government leader

little lady
  • Informal
124 4.4

A woman or girl spoken to in a warm, slightly old-fashioned way

old lady
  • Slang
66 8.8

An informal word men use for their wife or girlfriend

lady friend
  • Informal
50 3.7

A woman who is in a romantic relationship with a man

little old lady
  • Informal
33 4.2

An older woman who seems gentle and harmless

cleaning lady
  • Informal
31 1.0

A woman who cleans houses or offices for pay

22 3.1

An actress who plays the main female role in a play or film

A woman who runs the home and cares for the family

cat lady
  • Offensive
10 7.3

A woman who owns many cats and often seems socially awkward

bag lady
  • Offensive
7 8.2

A homeless woman who carries her things in shopping bags

7 3.5

A very famous and respected woman in a field like music or theatre

A woman who helps and looks after a queen or princess

6 7.8

A man who many women find very attractive and who often takes advantage of them

4 7.0

A man who is very charming and attracts many women

4 8.6

A woman who sells sex for money

2 9.2

A woman who sells sex for money

Iron Lady
  • Literature
2 7.2

A nickname for a woman political leader, not only Margaret Thatcher, seen as strong and strict

A woman with no paid job and a lot of free time

1 8.4

A Christian festival on March 25 that celebrates an angel telling Mary she will have a baby

Iron Lady
  • Literature
1 6.5

A nickname for Margaret Thatcher, the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, known for her strict leadership

1 8.4

A small room in a church used for prayer and dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus

A woman who gives money and help to others but looks down on them

lady slipper
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A wild North American orchid with a pouch-shaped lower petal that is hard to grow in gardens

1 1.8

A small round beetle with bright spots that eats small insects that harm plants

1 9.9

A wild orchid with a large pouch-shaped lower petal like a slipper

1 7.7

A common fern with soft feathery leaves often grown in shaded gardens

A bush with pale, sweet-smelling flowers that open at night

1 9.9

A woman who works as a prostitute

1 9.9

The private area of a woman between her legs

lady tulip
  • Specialized
1 8.7

A small tulip with thin stems and flowers marked by a darker base

A pale pink wild orchid with a pouch-like lower petal

1 9.0

A plant that grows tall flower stalks after its leaves die back

lady abbess
  • Formal
1 9.8

A woman who leads an abbey or convent

lady palm
  • Specialized
1 6.6

A small indoor plant with many thin, fan-shaped leaves

A famous English nurse who cared for soldiers at night and carried a lamp during the Crimean War

A type of orchid with a yellow pouch-shaped lip and dark red-brown petals

An orchid with small yellow flowers that look like tiny dancers

A small crab with spots on its shell that lives on the coasts of England

A plant with delicate feathery leaves that grows in cool mountain areas

A small crab with a bright, spotted shell that lives on sandy east coast beaches of the United States

8.4

A small crab with bright purple spots on its shell that lives on sandy Atlantic beaches

7.0

A woman who helps children cross the road near a school while holding a stop sign

A Roman Catholic religious group that dates from the 1100s and is devoted to the Virgin Mary and prayer

6.7

A sweet pink cocktail made with gin, brandy, and grenadine

slender lady palm
  • Specialized
9.0

A Chinese palm with thinner stems and leaves than the common lady palm

9.9

A woman who has sex for money, used in older books

How Polite

her ladyship
  • UK
9 8.5
madam
  • Formal
399 3.2
lady
∞ 1.0
woman
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

lady singular
ladies plural

Etymology

Lady comes from an old English word made of hlaf 'bread' and dige 'kneader', so it first named the woman who looked after the house's food. Because that woman was respected, lady became a polite way to speak about a woman.