bachelorette

American

[bach-luh-ret, bach-uh-luh-] / ˌbætʃ ləˈrɛt, ˌbætʃ ə lə- /

noun

an unmarried young woman, often one who is seeking or preparing to get married.

bachelorette British

/ ˌbætʃələˈrɛt /

noun

humorous a young unmarried professional woman
another word for bachelor apartment

"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

Gender

What's the difference between bachelorette and bachelor? See -ette.

Etymology

Origin of bachelorette

First recorded in 1900–05; bachelor + -ette

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.

Is there any way to get ahead of this and make sure we aren’t on the hook for her portion of the accommodations and activities for the bachelorette party?

From MarketWatch • Jan. 30, 2026

Not the most original sketch idea, but the specific details of the characters and Padilla’s smitten reactions as the bachelorette saved the sketch from overstaying its welcome.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 14, 2025

Some were simply hot takes like her disdain for the near constant presence of bachelorette parties in downtown Nashville.

From Slate • Dec. 2, 2025

They’re making field days the centerpiece of birthday celebrations and bachelorette parties.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 5, 2025

“Shanna Dixie, soon to be Shanna McFetridge!” cried a bachelorette.

From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023