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
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-nominated actress Carey Mulligan has been awarded a CBE by King Charles at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
After finding a listing for the Westchester house online, the actress said she was immediately drawn to the home in a “spiritual” way.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026
Tilly Norwood, the AI-created aspiring actress, is pursuing a second career as a chanteuse.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
Italian-American actress Isabella Rossellini lends her voice to an audio guide for the exhibition, which brings together works from museums including France's Louvre.
From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026
Grandma's a good actress, but she can't fool me.
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
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.
