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

Webster and Hopkins’s unique creation invites readers to stand in for the three main characters— the debutante Helen; the caddish Jed; and the good guy Saunders—as these hapless young people confront romantic and ethical conundrums.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

In reply, West Indies openers Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph started positively with a stand of 91 in 14 overs, before debutante Em Arlott claimed the prized wicket of Matthews for 48.

From BBC • May 30, 2025

But as the apps are trying to monetize their matchmaking—and some users now with a whole decade of striking out under their belts—old-fashioned meet-cutes-in-bars or, say, debutante balls look more and more appealing.

From Slate • Feb. 14, 2024

But those two opponents were among the lowest-ranked teams in the tournament, with Zambia a World Cup debutante.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2023

I’ll get to go to debutante balls and dinner parties, but the best part will be volunteering for local organizations that work with children.

From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson