donna
noun
Madam; Lady: an Italian title of respect prefixed to the given name of a woman.
donna
1 American
[dawn-nah]
/ ˈdɔn nɑ /
noun
-
(initial capital letter) Madam; Lady: an Italian title of respect prefixed to the given name of a woman.
-
an Italian lady.
Donna
2
American
[don-uh]
/ ˈdɒn ə /
noun
Donna
British
/ ˈdɒnə, ˈdɔnna /
noun
Etymology
Origin of donna
1660–70; < Italian < Latin domina, feminine of dominus
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
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
Carmen’s Habanera is now about sharing cotton candy; “La donna è mobile” concerns the way milk squirts out your nose when you laugh.
From New York Times ● May 5, 2023
On the back of such stories, Andrews was given a slew of lionising monikers: "prima donna in pigtails," "infant prodigy of trills," "the miracle voice" and "Britain's juvenile coloratura."
From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2022
“Is the prima donna ready to play now?”
From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers
BRQ: My mom, Donna McKenna, allowed us to make decisions for ourselves.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Actor Shelley Fabares, known for “The Donna Reed Show,” “One Day at a Time,” “Coach” and her hit song “Johnny Angel,” has died at 82.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
One of the names in the frame for ap Gwynfor's well-led expert panel is respected NHS troubleshooter Donna Ockenden.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 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
“I don’t know yet. Uncle Q was like a father to us,” Donna says.
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.
