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

The former first lady, now 60, gained a reputation, and criticism, over the years for her alleged appetite for shopping and extravagance, earning her the moniker "Gucci Grace".

From BBC

Ballroom architect Shalom Baranes said the building would span 22,000 sq ft and include two entry lobbies, a commercial kitchen, an office for the first lady and a movie theatre.

From BBC

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

This marked the first time a former first lady and former president were speaking to a congressional committee under subpoena.

From The Wall Street Journal

One grant, named after former first lady Laura Bush, helps recruit and train library professionals.

From Salon