debutante

American  

[deb-yoo-tahnt, -tant] / ˈdɛb yʊˌtɑnt, -ˌtænt /

Or débutante

noun

1. a young woman making a debut into society.

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debutante British  

/ -ˌtænt, ˈdɛbjʊˌtɑːnt /

noun

1. a young woman of upper-class background who is presented to society, usually at a formal ball

2. a girl or young woman regarded as being upper-class, wealthy, and of a frivolous or snobbish social set

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Other Word Forms

• postdebutante noun

Etymology

Origin of debutante

1795–1805; < French; feminine of débutant debutant

Example Sentences

They would become debutantes, where they would come out to society their senior year in high school as eligible to date and eventually marry.

From Literature

At its best, Orange County comes across as well-groomed, generous of creature comforts, pretty in a standardized, debutante fashion, in part from master planning that has become a worldwide model.

From Los Angeles Times

The changes Han introduced to the series included new and expanded characters, the Season 1 debutante ball and a four-year time jump.

From Los Angeles Times

As a beautiful, wealthy debutante, Katharine was introduced to many of the most eligible young men of the 1950s - and she met Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, a grandson of George V.

From BBC

In “By Invitation Only,” fashion takes center stage as the girls prepare for their debutante debuts.

From Los Angeles Times