actress

[ ak-tris ]

/ ˈæk trɪs /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR actress ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a woman who acts in stage plays, motion pictures, television broadcasts, etc., especially professionally.

RELATED WORDS

starlet, diva, ingenue

Nearby words

Origin of actress

First recorded in 1580–90; act(o)r + -ess

Usage note

See -ess.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for actress

Once upon a time, a girl named Onika Maraj dreamed of being an actress.
Nicki Minaj: High School Actress|Alex Chancey, The Daily Beast Video|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In another year, stories about the strange new face of an A-list actress might draw chortles and cackles.
Renée Zellweger Got a New Face—and Everyone Had An Opinion About It|Kevin O’Keeffe|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Oscar-winning actress put nude photo thieves in their place with one perfect statement.
Jennifer Lawrence’s Righteous Fury Says Everything We Wanted to Say|Kevin O’Keeffe|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then there was an event, an HRC event, and I took a picture with Monique, the actress and comedian.
How A Company’s Support of Gay Employees Helped One of Them To Come Out||December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And who better to do that with than the actress who is playing the object of said (alleged) lesbian affection in the flick?
Inside the Lifetime Whitney Houston Movie’s Lesbian Lover Storyline|Kevin Fallon|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An actress of genius, she knew how to keep her head, but she surrendered her whole heart, her whole soul.
Later Queens of the French Stage|H. Noel Williams
To forget his treachery, he enters into a clandestine relationship with an actress of the town.
The Social Significance of the Modern Drama|Emma Goldman
Spencer, in his own vivid phrase, was “looking for trouble” the instant he caught sight of the actress.
The Silent Barrier|Louis Tracy
An American actress was the centre of an eager group of grinning young men; she was unseen, but her voice was distinct.
Old Junk|H. M. Tomlinson
The impediment in speech made it impossible for Mrs. Inchbald to succeed greatly as an actress.
Nature and Art|Mrs. Inchbald

British Dictionary definitions for actress

actress

/ (ˈæktrɪs) /

noun

a woman who acts in a play, film, broadcast, etc

informal a woman who puts on a false manner in order to deceive others

usage

Use of the word actress to refer to a female who acts is old-fashioned. The modern gender-neutral form is actor

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for actress

actress

1580s, "female who does something;" see actor + -ess; stage sense is from 1700. Sometimes French actrice was used.

actress

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of actress

Usage note

Examples from the Web for actress

actress

noun

usage

actress