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Glite Dictionary
Ladyship

Ladyship

20 9.6
A polite title for a woman of noble rank like a countess
  • noun
  • /ˈleɪdiˌʃɪp/
  • UK
translation icon : su señoría
  • It's the police, Your Ladyship.
  • Ladyship says
  • Thank you, Your Ladyship
  • ask Your Ladyship

Examples

  • When she was out of earshot, her ladyship began to peel the snowy kid gloves from her hands.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Makes my heart glad to see your ladyship so happy tonight.

    A Damsel in Distress (1937)

  • May I ask your ladyship the source of that music?

    Fiction book (1998)

  • I want to keep an eye on Her Ladyship.

    Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)

  • No, I'm afraid Your Ladyship is misunderstanding me.

    23 Paces to Baker Street (1956)

  • And where will your Lordship and her Ladyship be staying?

    Global Heresy (2002)

  • Taking a sip of wine, he added, "Has anyone ever told your ladyship how eloquent your eyes are?"

    Fiction book (1997)

  • "Your ladyship," he called out, nodding casually at the stairs, "your daughter needs you within."

    Fiction book (2000)

  • "Infinitesimal, my dears," her Ladyship said sprightly.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • "Your ladyship is invited to the royal banquet this evening."

Synonyms

m'lady
vsLadyship
  • Archaic
13 9.9

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

is the modern formal title for women holding specific peerage ranks
her ladyship
vsLadyship
  • UK
5 8.5

A polite title used for a woman of high social rank in Britain

is used specifically for women of ranks below duchess
peeress
vsLadyship
  • UK
9.9

A woman who has a noble title, often in Britain, or a woman whose husband was a noble

is a title used to address those rank holders rather than the person

Compounds

her ladyship
  • UK
5 8.5

A polite title used for a woman of high social rank in Britain

Surface Forms

Ladyship singular
Ladyships plural

Morphology

Ladyship = lady (semi-transparent) = lady + ship

The form 'lady' + the noun-forming suffix '-ship' is clear, but its specific use as a formal title/address for certain peeresses is a specialized conventional meaning not fully inferable by all learners.

Etymology

Ladyship comes from lady plus the ending -ship, the same ending in friendship and leadership that means 'state' or 'rank'. So Ladyship is a polite title used to address a woman of noble rank.