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lady

lady

902 1.0
A woman who has good manners and looks elegant
  • noun
  • /ˈleɪdi/
translation icon : 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
360 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
countess
vslady
114 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
madame
vslady
  • Formal
36 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
baroness
vslady
20 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
dame
vslady
  • UK
13 6.9

A woman given an official title for important public service

is mainly about personal refinement and polite behaviour rather than honorifics
gentlewoman
vslady
  • Archaic
6 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
2 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
7.0

A woman from a high social class with a family title

is focused on refinement and etiquette rather than aristocratic membership

Antonyms

31 4.2

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

Idioms

8.6

To act toward a woman without respect

Compounds

487 1.0

A girl or young woman in her teens to early twenties

379 3.0

The wife of a president or other top government leader

little lady
  • Informal
61 4.4

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

lady friend
  • Informal
40 3.7

A woman who is in a romantic relationship with a man

old lady
  • Slang
36 8.8

An informal word men use for their wife or girlfriend

cleaning lady
  • Informal
27 1.0

A woman who cleans houses or offices for pay

little old lady
  • Informal
24 4.2

An older woman who seems gentle and harmless

19 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
8 7.3

A woman who owns many cats and often seems socially awkward

bag lady
  • Offensive
5 8.2

A homeless woman who carries her things in shopping bags

A woman who helps and looks after a queen or princess

3 7.0

A man who is very charming and attracts many women

3 3.5

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

2 8.6

A woman who sells sex for money

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

1 9.2

A woman who sells sex for money

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

1 1.8

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

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

Iron Lady
  • Literature
1 7.2

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

1 9.0

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

1 6.7

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

1 9.9

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

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

lady abbess
  • Formal
9.8

A woman who leads an abbey or convent

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

9.9

A woman who works as a prostitute

lady palm
  • Specialized
6.6

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

lady slipper
  • Specialized
9.9

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

lady tulip
  • Specialized
8.7

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

8.4

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

7.7

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

9.9

The private area of a woman between her legs

7.8

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

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

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

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

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

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

slender lady palm
  • Specialized
9.0

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

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

How Refined

aristocrat
38 6.5
dame
  • UK
13 6.9
lady
902 1.0
commoner
31 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.