gentlewoman

[jen-tl-woom-uhn]

noun

plural

gentlewomen 

1. a woman of good family, breeding, or social position

2. a civilized, educated, sensitive, or well-mannered woman; lady.

3. a woman who attends upon a lady of rank.

4. a female member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives.

   The chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Maine.

gentlewoman

/ ˈdʒɛntəlˌwʊmən /

noun

1. archaic,  a woman regarded as being of good family or breeding; lady

2. rare,  a woman who is cultured, courteous, and well-educated

3. history a woman in personal attendance on a high-ranking lady

Other Word Forms

• gentlewomanly adjective
• gentlewomanliness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gentlewoman¹

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; gentle, woman

Example Sentences

The Lady was established in 1885 by Thomas Gibson Bowles, as a magazine for gentlewomen, a weekly guide to navigating the social minefield of well-to-do British life.

From BBC

She thinks it matters that Chenery engaged with fans as “a perfect gentlewoman.”

From Washington Post

“I support repealing these tax credits,” he replied, offering only the noncommittal promise to “continue to work with the gentlewoman from Virginia, just like we will with all members.”

From Washington Post

One of his stories is about a Southern gentlewoman who keeps her dead fiance’s corpse in her bed.

From Los Angeles Times

As usually performed, it is the distasteful tale of a callow playboy named Bertram who treats the friend who loves him — Helen, a young “gentlewoman” of his mother’s household — as a discardable childhood toy.

From New York Times

Related Words

• girl 
• mother