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.
He said that the actress’ “strength and poise” were critical to bringing the myth to life on the big screen.
From Salon • May 24, 2026
That month, he filed criminal complaints and lawsuits against the YouTuber and the actress' family for making false accusations.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
The actress’ career had begun long before she landed the part of Brenda Walsh.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 2, 2026
“It all began with ‘Linnea Quigley’s Horror Workout,’” says Lea, who designed the piece in homage to the B-movie actress’ underground classic.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2025
It became evident that faults of training or, perhaps, of temperament, were to be set off against the actress’ unquestionable merits.
From Mary Anderson by Farrar, J. M.
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.
