actress
Americannoun
noun
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a woman who acts in a play, film, broadcast, etc
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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
Gender
What's the difference between actress and actor? See -ess.
Etymology
Origin of actress
Vocabulary lists containing actress
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The English actress is having a blockbuster year, between reprising her breakout role and starring in Spielberg’s ‘Disclosure Day.’
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
Some veterans, like actress Madhuri Dixit, frame the issue as a personal choice rather than a structural problem.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
An audience member who witnessed Pike's speech, and who wished to remain anonymous, applauded the actress for her intervention.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
The actress has since been linked to musician Role Model, whose real name is Tucker Pillsbury.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026
The problem was that she was such an expert actress it was impossible to know if it was genuine.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
