doyenne

American

[doi-en, dwa-yen] / dɔɪˈɛn, dwaˈyɛn /

noun

plural

doyennes

a woman who is the senior member, as in age or rank, of a group, class, profession, etc.

Gender

See -enne.

Etymology

Origin of doyenne

1900–05; < French, feminine of doyen doyen

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.

Many of them were barely in school when the doyenne of Paris fashion took over menswear at Hermes in 1988 with instructions from then company boss Jean-Louis Dumas to run it "like your small company".

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

We tapped science doyenne Alie Ward, the host of the funny cult favorite “Ologies” podcast, to share her picks for the best science books of 2025.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2025

And there will be several books too, one of them co-authored by Helen Garner, a doyenne of modern Australian literature.

From BBC • Sep. 8, 2025

Surely some people will recoil at my likening Meghan’s efforts to those of Queen Martha, doyenne of gracious living and doing everything yourself.

From Salon • Aug. 27, 2025

The Queen went directly toward the Countess Wimphen, the doyenne, and, holding out her hand, leaned forward as if to kiss her cheek.

From The Sunny Side of Diplomatic Life, 1875-1912 by Hegermann-Lindencrone, L. de (Lillie de)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023