lady

[ley-dee]

noun

plural

ladies 

1. a woman who is refined, polite, and well-spoken.

   She may be poor and have little education, but she's a real lady.

2. a woman of high social position or economic class.

   She was born a lady and found it hard to adjust to her reduced circumstances.

3. any woman; female (sometimes used in combination): There was a really nice saleslady at the counter who gave me some advice on what to buy.

   The lady who answered the phone sounded a little stressed.

   There was a really nice saleslady at the counter who gave me some advice on what to buy.

4. (used in direct address: usually offensive in the singular).

   Ladies and gentlemen, welcome.

   Lady, out of my way, please.

5. wife.

   The ambassador and his lady arrived late.

6. Slang.,  a female lover or steady companion.

7. Lady, (in Great Britain) the proper title of any woman whose husband is higher in rank than baronet or knight, or who is the daughter of a nobleman not lower than an earl (although the title is given by courtesy also to the wives of baronets and knights).

8. a woman who has proprietary rights or authority, as over a manor; female feudal superior.

9. Lady, the Virgin Mary.

10. a woman who is the object of chivalrous devotion.

11. Usually Lady

    1. an attribute or abstraction personified as a woman; a designation of an allegorical figure as feminine: Lady Virtue.

       Lady Fortune;

       Lady Virtue.

    2. a title prefixed to the name of a goddess.

       Lady Venus.

adjective

1. Sometimes Offensive.,  being a female.

   a lady reporter.

2. of a lady; ladylike; feminine.

lady

¹

/ ˈleɪdɪ /

noun

1. a woman regarded as having the characteristics of a good family and high social position

2. 1. a polite name for a woman

   2. ( as modifier )

      a lady doctor

3. an informal name for wife

4. the female head of the household

5. history a woman with proprietary rights and authority, as over a manor Compare lord

Lady

²

/ ˈleɪdɪ /

noun

1. (in Britain) a title of honour borne by various classes of women of the peerage

2. a term of address to holders of the title Lady, used esp by servants

3. a title of the Virgin Mary

4. archaic,  an allegorical prefix for the personifications of certain qualities

   Lady Luck

5. the term of address by which certain positions of respect are prefaced when held by women

   Lady Chairman

Sensitive Note

In the meanings “refined, polite woman” and “woman of high social position,” the noun lady is the parallel of gentleman. As forms of address, both nouns are used in the plural ( Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your cooperation ), but only lady occurs in the singular. Except in chivalrous, literary, or similar contexts ( Lady, spurn me not ), this singular is now usually perceived as rude or at least insensitive: Where do you want the new air conditioner, lady? Although lady is still found in phrases or compounds referring to occupation or the like ( cleaning lady; saleslady ), this use seems to be diminishing. The use of lady as a modifier ( lady doctor; lady artist ) suggests that it is unusual to find a woman in the role specified. Many women are offended by this use, and it too is becoming less common. An approach that is increasingly followed is to avoid specifying the gender of the performer or practitioner. Person or a gender-neutral term can be substituted for lady, such as cleaner for cleaning lady and sales associate or salesclerk for saleslady. When circumstances make it relevant to specify gender, woman rather than lady is used, the parallel term being man: Men doctors outnumber women doctors on the hospital staff by more than three to one. The adjectives male and female can also be used: I feel more comfortable with a female gynecologist, but my sister prefers to see a male one. See also -person, -woman.

Other Word Forms

• ladyhood noun
• ladyish adjective
• ladyishly adverb
• ladyishness noun
• ladyless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lady¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English ladi(e), earlier lavedi, Old English hlǣfdīge, hlǣfdige, perhaps originally meaning “loaf-kneader,” equivalent to hlāf “bread, loaf” ( loaf ¹ ) + -dīge, -dige, variant of dǣge “kneader” ( dough; compare Old Norse deigja “maid”); lord

Word History and Origins

Origin of lady¹

Old English hlǣfdīge, from hlāf bread + dīge kneader, related to dāh dough

Synonym Study

See woman.

Example Sentences

"It's unbelievable how a group of ladies that need that little bit of something in their lives, come here and feel like they're part of a family," she adds.

Read more on BBC

Crawford’s rise from chorus line to leading lady was driven by the actress’s commitment to her movie-star dreams.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“When she was in the mumu she was a tiny old lady.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"It's not about actually defending yourself with a firearm. I want ladies to change what they think about themselves. Stop being silent," she said.

Read more on BBC

“She’s the same smart, witty lady she’s always been,” Owens said, but she doesn’t come to the nursery as often as before.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gentlewoman 
• nobility 
• noblewoman