duchess
Americannoun
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the wife or widow of a duke.
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a woman who holds in her own right the sovereignty or titles of a duchy.
noun
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the wife or widow of a duke
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a woman who holds the rank of duke in her own right
verb
Gender
See -ess.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of duchess
1300–50; Middle English duchesse < Anglo-French, Old French, feminine derivative of duc duke; see -ess
Explanation
A duchess is a female member of a royal or noble family. If a woman marries a duke, she becomes a duchess. Many duchesses inherit their title when they're born — there are still hereditary dukes and duchesses in the U.K., for example. In other cases, a woman marries into a noble family and finds herself with the title. The word duchess comes from the feminine form of the Latin dux, "leader or commander."
Vocabulary lists containing duchess
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.
After their previous contract ended last summer, it was replaced by a "first look deal", which gives Netflix first refusal on any new proposed shows from the duke and duchess.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Less of a trial to Muv were Pamela, who seemed happy with a rural life, and Deborah, who wound up a duchess.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
In October, she lost her duchess title when her ex-husband relinquished his Duke of York title over his links with Epstein.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
But set against Ferguson’s gushing praise for Epstein elsewhere in the emails, this can only be seen as deeply humiliating for the former duchess.
From BBC • Feb. 1, 2026
And if she pushed, she could easily get him to offer to make her his duchess.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
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.
