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lady

lady

335 1.0
A woman who has good manners and looks elegant
  • noun
  • /ˈleɪdi/
: dama
  • Everyone admired the lady for her poise and sophistication during the formal dinner.

Just just this posh lady that is just living.

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Examples

  • Oh, this young lady is Miss Linda James.

  • You can imagine how surprised the ladies were when the angel spoke to them.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • How could you get between a lady and her ice cream?

  • And how are you today, young ladies?

  • - Ladies and gentlemen of the press, let's get right to the questions.

  • Then I looked at the lady who had just said hello to May Anna.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • She was a good lady, your mother.

  • Well, this young lady here says that you had plans to meet up with Doug after school yesterday.

  • Once Upon a time there was a lady called Edith Horsley.

  • And this is the home of Madame Matilda Loisel, a young lady as charming as she is discontented.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

woman
vslady
∞ 1.0

Adult females considered together as a group

specifies refined behaviour and high social position rather than general gender
madam
vslady
  • Formal
399 3.2

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

describes refined character and social grace rather than a form of address
madame
vslady
  • Formal
265 4.7

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

refers to refinement and good manners, not primarily a spoken title
countess
vslady
63 6.9

A woman with a noble title, for example the wife of a count

emphasizes polished manners and social refinement, not a titled rank
dame
vslady
  • UK
30 6.9

A woman given an official title for important public service

is mainly about personal refinement and polite behaviour rather than honorifics
baroness
vslady
19 7.5

A woman who has the title of baron or is married to a baron

highlights genteel manners and status rather than legal title
gentlewoman
vslady
  • Archaic
7 9.0

A woman from a rich or important family who has polite, graceful manners

is a refined person of good manners used more broadly today
noblewoman
vslady
3 5.8

A woman from a high social class who has a title

is about refinement and manners, not necessarily tied to noble rank
marquise
vslady
1 9.9

A woman of high social rank below a duchess and above a countess

describes refined social standing without specifying a noble rank
1 7.0

A woman from a high social class with a family title

is focused on refinement and etiquette rather than aristocratic membership

Antonyms

16 4.2

A person without a noble title who is an ordinary member of society

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 Refined

aristocrat
38 6.5
dame
  • UK
30 6.9
lady
335 1.0
commoner
16 4.2

Surface Forms

lady singular
ladies plural

Etymology

Lady comes from an old English word made of hlaf 'bread' and dige 'kneader', originally the woman who cared for the bread and household. As that job became a sign of respect and good manners, lady grew to mean a refined, well-mannered, or high-status woman.