first lady

American  

[furst leee-dee] / ˈfɜrst ˈlei di /

noun

plural

first ladies

1. Often First Lady the wife of the U.S. president, or the wife of a current governor or mayor.

2. Often First Lady the wife of the head of any country.

   the First Lady of Brazil.

3. the foremost woman in any art, profession, or the like.

   Helen Hayes, the first lady of American theater.

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first lady British  

noun

1. (in the US) the wife or official hostess of a chief executive, esp of a state governor or a president

2. a woman considered to be at the top of her profession or art

   the first lady of jazz

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Etymology

Origin of first lady

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

There was applause from guests in the East Room of the White House, who included French first lady Brigitte Macron.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

Michelle Obama frequently wore your designs, but most famously, on election night in 2008, and then during her final appearance as first lady.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

The first lady also offered her condolences to families of US service members who have been killed, though she did not explicitly mention any particular military action.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

Kim Ju Ae’s “half-updo” mirrors the hairstyle favored by her mother, North Korea’s first lady, Ri Sol Ju.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026

The first lady steps out of William Clark’s room, into the long, dark hallway.

From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly