(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.
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
The film may lull periodically, but all else fades away when the prima donna takes center stage for her aria.
From Salon • Sep. 28, 2024
Think of “La donna è mobile” or “Vissi d’arte.”
From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2023
Ahead of her debut in Broadway’s ‘Funny Girl,’ ‘Glee’ star Lea Michele discussed the allegations about her microaggressions and prima donna behavior.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 7, 2022
It’s a pretext for being a prima donna.
From "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini
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.
