jane
noun
a girl or woman.
jane
1 American
[jayn]
/ dʒeɪn /
noun
Slang.
Jane
2
American
[jayn]
/ dʒeɪn /
noun
jane
British
/ dʒeɪn /
noun
Etymology
Origin of jane
An Americanism dating back to 1905–10; generic use of the proper name
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.
See Examples For:
She had picked out her favorite mask — a blue one with white polka-dots — and a pair of mary jane shoes with cats on them for her first day.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 29, 2020
In one episode the duo unwittingly land $2000 for getting Ray’s heart broken by a jane who won his honest affections and then dumped him.
From Forbes ● Nov. 18, 2011
Someone to help you interpret, ask follow-up questions and simply lend the support of their presence is invaluable. — jane gross Trust me, you need another person present.
From New York Times ● Dec. 2, 2010
“In high school I read jane Eyre, Vanity Fair, Great Expectations, et cetera,” Immie went on.
From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart
A jane was a small coin of little worth, so the meaning is "not worth a red cent".
From The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems by D. Laing Purves
We are seeing this dynamic in the backlash against Jane Doe at Cornell.
From Slate ● Oct. 26, 2026
The researchers demonstrated that the ousiometer can analyze material from remarkably different sources, including Jane Austen's novels, Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, the New York Times, Wikipedia, Twitter, and transcripts of talk radio programs.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026
Citi chief executive Jane Fraser said the onshore capabilities will help clients raise capital, access investors and trade locally in China.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
Jane Dodds has announced she will stand down as leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
There aren’t any chicks right now because it isn’t the time of year when they get them, but Jane, who works at the paint counter, says they get hundreds every spring, and sometimes ducklings too.
From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
