leading lady
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of leading lady
First recorded in 1870–75
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.
The plot gets pleasingly messy despite starring a leading lady who was quite literally constructed to tidy up.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026
"I thought I'll get into the back seat beside the son's friend, but oh no the leading lady has to sit in the front seat," she continued.
From BBC • Dec. 8, 2025
Crawford’s rise from chorus line to leading lady was driven by the actress’s commitment to her movie-star dreams.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025
This is what we’re here for, after all, and any shark movie that isn’t willing to make proper use of its leading lady is a no-go.
From Salon • Jun. 8, 2025
We’ll take the leading lady first, who, I believe, would prefer to be briefly described as a languid, sophisticated type.
From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger
Definitions 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.
