(initial capital letter) Madam; Lady: an Italian title of respect prefixed to the given name of a woman.
an Italian lady.
1660–70; < Italian < Latin domina, feminine of dominus
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The prima donna in extremis in Pearl Cleage’s “Angry, Raucous, and Shamelessly Gorgeous,” which is having its Los Angeles premiere at the Geffen Playhouse, has an air of Bette Davis extravagance to her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
Starring Vanessa Williams as the titular prima donna, the brilliantly named Ebony Scrooge, the film follows Ebony’s transformation from penny-pinching pop star to charitable altruist.
From Salon ● Dec. 24, 2025
But Knight, Larraín, and Jolie are all careful to avoid reducing Callas to an over-the-top ableist stereotype or portraying her as the ruthless prima donna tigress the media painted her as.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2024
Even the indoor swimming pool was made to look fit for a prima donna.
From New York Times ● Sep. 27, 2022
She knew they all thought she was just a spoiled prima donna who didn’t know anything about music.
From "Small Steps" by Louis Sachar
The wider review into maternity failings in Nottingham began in September 2022, and was led by senior midwife Donna Ockenden.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Some arias are cut; Donna Elvira’s Act 2 “Mi tradì” replaces her Act 1 “Ah, fuggi il traditor,” and there is no moralizing epilogue after the Don goes to hell.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
Rapper Donna Marie Duddy, known as DM, says Renegade Zoo is "about not putting limits on ourselves".
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
A few blocks away, Donna Dasher and her husband Albert were trying to get a photo of the White House.
From Barron's ● Jul. 4, 2026
Two other women gather around Donna and I try to see her through the mirror, but they all block me.
From "American Street" by Ibi Zoboi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
