dame

[ deym ]

/ deɪm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dame ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

(initial capital letter) (in Britain)

the official title of a female member of the Order of the British Empire, equivalent to that of a knight.
the official title of the wife of a knight or baronet.

(formerly) a form of address to any woman of rank or authority.

a matronly woman of advanced age; matron.

Slang: Sometimes Offensive. a term used to refer to a woman: Some dame cut me off and almost caused an accident.

Ecclesiastical. a title of a nun in certain orders.

a mistress of a dame-school.

Archaic. the mistress of a household.

Archaic. a woman of rank or authority, especially a female ruler.

Nearby words

damask, damask rose, damastes, damasus i, damasus ii, dame, dame school, dame's rocket, dame's violet, dame-school, damfool

Origin of dame

1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Latin domina, feminine of dominus lord, master

Usage note

Dame is sometimes perceived as insulting when used to refer generally to a woman, unless it is a woman of rank or advanced age.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dame

Over a glass (or more) of port, we toast to the Queen…and Dame Judi Dench.
Join The Mile High (Dining) Club|Allison McNearney|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dame Diana Rigg, who plays Lady Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones, has turned tales of critical bashing into a delightful play.
Diana Rigg: GOT's Queen of Thorns Speaks|Nico Hines|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That was your first big film with real actors, and several stars, like Michael Fassbender, Dame Judi Dench, etc.
True Detective Director Cary Fukunaga’s Journey from Pro Snowboarder to Hollywood’s Most Wanted|Marlow Stern|February 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the coming weeks, Ahrendts will collect a DBE from the British Government, becoming a Dame of the British Empire.
Angela Ahrendts to Become Dame; Google Glass Unveils Stylish Frames|The Fashion Beast Team|January 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Angela Lansbury has been created a Dame in the Queen's New Year honors list, for services to drama and charity.
Murder, Dame Angela Lansbury Wrote|Tom Sykes|December 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"The dame was loaded and she was an art collector, that's all," Lou said.
The Old Die Rich|Horace Leonard Gold
Fortunately you are at Dame Hansen's inn, where you will have the best of food and care.
Ticket No. "9672"|Jules Verne
She asked the dame how many there were in one piece of stone which she picked up, and which was about an inch square.
Daisy; or, The Fairy Spectacles|Caroline Snowden Guild
If religion has nought to do with living, Dame, under your good pleasure, what has it to do with?
A Forgotten Hero|Emily Sarah Holt
"It may hae been something waur, in his likeness," said Dame Glendinning.
The Monastery|Sir Walter Scott

British Dictionary definitions for dame (1 of 2)

dame

/ (deɪm) /

noun

(formerly) a woman of rank or dignity; lady

a nun who has taken the vows of her order, esp a Benedictine

archaic, mainly British a matronly or elderly woman

slang, mainly US and Canadian a woman

Also called: pantomime dame British the role of a comic old woman in a pantomime, usually played by a man

Word Origin for dame

C13: from Old French, from Latin domina lady, mistress of a household

British Dictionary definitions for dame (2 of 2)

Dame

/ (deɪm) /

noun (in Britain)

the title of a woman who has been awarded the Order of the British Empire or any of certain other orders of chivalry

the legal title of the wife or widow of a knight or baronet, placed before her nameDame Judith Compare Lady

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