dame

[ deym ]

See 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.

Origin of dame

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

usage note For dame

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. 2023

How to use dame in a sentence

A BVA Opinion poll released Thursday, ranking France's favorite Premières Dames since 1958, put Trierweiler last.
Francois Hollande Announces Breakup with First Lady Valerie Trierweiler | Tracy McNicoll | January 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Gabe tried to kick his postmodern, adolescent sense of ennui (a “lame” feeling) through members of the opposite sex (“dames”).
The Best Lyrics From Daniel Day-Lewis’s Son’s Rap Song | Amy Zimmerman | November 20, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Password Plus: I Love Lucy and Betty As it turns out, the two grandes dames of comedy make a pretty good team!
Betty White’s 15 Funniest Moments | The Daily Beast Video | January 17, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
Nothing says home and comfort like this recipe from one of my favorite grande dames of the kitchen, the legendary Alice Waters.
Fresh Picks | Padma Lakshmi | October 20, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
For nearly 70 years the magazine flourished, grew, and shifted with the times as only the most graceful of grand dames can.
A Sweet Send-off for Gourmet | Cookstr.com | October 14, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST

The Damos (Dames) as their name indicates, are meant for the ladies, and are the smallest made.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.
It is a true saying that, if there were no dames nor damsels in the world, men would be less courageous.
Child Life In Town And Country | Anatole France
But, as squire of dames, Kit was too much occupied to give further heed to business in the sala.
The Treasure Trail | Marah Ellis Ryan
As a reason for her lies, she said, "qu'elle avait voulu faire comme les dames que l'on avait mises dans le journal."
The Sexual Life of the Child | Albert Moll
When a Sark-foot wife gets on her broomstick, the dames of Allonby are ready to mount.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources | James Wood

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

Origin of 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 name: Dame 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

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