madam
Americannoun
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(often initial capital letter) a polite term of address to a woman, originally used only to a woman of rank or authority.
Madam President; May I help you, madam?
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the woman in charge of a household.
Is the madam at home?
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the woman in charge of a house of prostitution.
noun
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a polite term of address for a woman, esp one considered to be of relatively high social status
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a woman who runs a brothel
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informal a precocious or pompous little girl
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informal the lady of the house
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of madam
1250–1300; Middle English madame < Old French, originally ma dame my lady; see dame
Explanation
Madam is a very formal way to address a woman, particularly an older or married woman. A waiter at a fancy restaurant might say, "Your table is ready, madam." If a stranger calls a woman madam, he probably sees her as a mature, dignified person. If the woman is younger, she is more likely to be called "miss," and sometimes madam is abbreviated as "ma'am." Another kind of madam is a woman who owns or runs a house of prostitution. Madam comes from the French phrase ma dame, "my lady."
Vocabulary lists containing madam
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.
MADAM, —I am aware that you are desirous of obtaining the post of lady of honor.
From Memoirs of the Comtesse Du Barry; with intimate details of her entire career as favorite of Louis XV by Lamothe-Langon, Etienne-Léon, baron de
"MADAM, "I do myself the honour to write to you this evening, because I believe to-morrow will be a day of battle, and something forebodes in my breast that I shall fall in it.
From The Tatler, Volume 1, 1899 by Aitken, George A.
I have detain'd you too long already, and shall only add, that I am, with much respect, and every good Wish, MADAM, Your most Obedient Humble Servant, THE TRANSLATOR.
From The Pretentious Young Ladies by Molière
I will merely add that for such a case as MADAM, dealt with in the same way as DEIFIED, the number of readings is 400.
From Amusements in Mathematics by Dudeney, Henry Ernest
It was headed from the offices of The Imparcial, and read— "MADAM, "Acting under your instructions, I have caused inquiries to be made by my correspondents in Paris, London and Vienna.
From The Princess Galva A Romance by Whitelaw, David
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.
