grande dame
noun
a usually elderly woman of dignified or aristocratic bearing.
grandes dames
-
pluralof grande dame.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Until her death last year, Helen Vendler was one of the grandes dames of American letters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025
The grandes dames of British theatre reminisced about their lives and careers, with searing honesty and humility.
From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2025
Rowlands embodied tough cookies, glamour girls and grandes dames, with suburban housewives in between.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2024
Yet, because the cantankerous title character is played by the marvelous Sheila Hancock — one of the true grandes dames of British entertainment — I allowed myself to hope.
From New York Times ● Sep. 5, 2019
In fact, Eleonore was one of the "grandes dames" now so rare.
From Modeste Mignon by Honoré de Balzac
