first lady

American  

[furst leee-dee] / ˈfɜrst ˈlei di /

noun

first ladies plural

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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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• first ladies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of first lady

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

In 2023 French screen legend Catherine Deneuve starred in a film about her years as first lady, titled simply "Bernadette".

From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026

Virtually all of the beverages at the restaurant are sugar-free, in keeping with Michelle Obama’s push as first lady to reduce childhood obesity and promote healthier lifestyles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

A former lawmaker and party leader, she shot to prominence when she became first lady at 19, after her mother broke with her father amid corruption scandals.

From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026

The president lamented that the former first lady did not compliment his performance.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 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