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.
Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet has delighted a young film fan with a surprise call after hearing her story of having to travel 140-miles to find an accessible cinema.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
Monroe’s centenary arrives this month amid a push to re-establish her as a serious actress and a multidimensional person.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
Here, the actress and comedian shares her most cherished places to visit during World Cup season, including where to find the best barbecue and cocktails.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
Moving into a house was also a novel experience for the actress, who grew up in New York City, where she spent her childhood living in apartments.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 4, 2026
I read them aloud like an actress on stage.
From "Lucky Broken Girl" by Ruth Behar
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.
