first lady

[furst leee-dee]

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.

first lady

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of first lady¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

It will be the first official visit to Ireland by a Ukrainian president and first lady.

Read more on BBC

The leader of one of South Korea's largest cult-like churches stood trial on Monday accused of bribing the country's former first lady with gifts including a designer handbag and a diamond necklace.

Read more on Barron's

The retelling of the first lady’s life recasts her as a petulant former cabaret performer who would rather be on stage than in the White House.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“But the first lady’s assistant was standing next to me, shouting, ‘That’s my first lady!’”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A court in Gabon has sentenced the former first lady and the son of deposed President Ali Bongo to 20 years in jail following a two-day trial.

Read more on BBC