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
- duchesslike adjective
Etymology
Origin of duchess
1300–50; Middle English duchesse < Anglo-French, Old French, feminine derivative of duc duke; -ess
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.
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
The letter represents the most direct pressure on the former duchess to testify since the start of the Epstein scandal.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
You know I’m Sussex now,” the duchess replied.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025
The major said there was an Italian story something like that about the duchess who could not sleep at night.
From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
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.
