madame

American  

[muh-dam, -dahm, ma-, mad-uhm, ma-dam] / məˈdæm, -ˈdɑm, mæ-, ˈmæd əm, maˈdam /

noun

(often initial capital letter)

• mesdames,
  plural
• madames
  plural

1. a French title of respect equivalent to “Mrs.”, used alone or prefixed to a woman's married name or title.

   Madame Curie.

2. (in English) a title of respect used in speaking to or of an older woman, especially one of distinction, who is not of American or British origin. Mme.

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madame British  

/ ˈmædəm, madam /

noun

1. a married Frenchwoman: usually used as a title equivalent to Mrs, and sometimes extended to older unmarried women to show respect and to women of other nationalities

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• madames
  plural
• mesdames
  plural

Etymology

Origin of madame

From French, dating back to 1590–1600; see origin at madam

Explanation

Madame is the way to address a French woman, as in Madame Curie. It’s officially for married women, like Mrs. in English, but it’s often used for any exotic woman, married and French or not. The title madame is sometimes used interchangeably with madam or ma'am, although usually the first one is intended for French-speakers. In Gustave Flaubert's novel Madame Bovary, the main character, Emma Bovary, is a married woman. Madame was originally used only to refer to or address women of high rank or royalty. In French, madame literally means "my lady."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

madame madames mesdames

To mix it up, served with a fried egg on top and - voila - you have a croque madame.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2025

For something more substantial, there is a seafood tower to share, along with a Parisian-centric menu that includes a croque madame sandwich, duck confit and pâté served with baguettes.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 9, 2022

To illustrate the pride of the French housewife dedicated to cleanliness, Sempé drew madame polishing the tracks of a railroad line that ran just outside her front gate.

From New York Times ● Aug. 11, 2022

If you've eaten homemade macaroni and cheese, a classic croque madame, or lasagna, chances are you've experienced the rich creaminess of Béchamel.

From Salon ● Jan. 6, 2022

The old madame did not venture to say she was afraid they would be neglected during Léonce’s absence; she hardly ventured to think so.

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

So I spent my summer there looking for burgers, and not laughing, and eating these croque madames that tasted like soot, because I kept going to a workman’s cafe where everyone smoked, especially the cook.

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2012

The following is a picture of things as they were:—"The madames on board, occupy the few days which elapse before landing in preparing the most dazzling effect, on their descent upon the Australian shore."

From The History of Tasmania , Volume II by John West

I ain't no patience with your saucy madames as can't remember as they're eating an honest man's bread.

From He Knew He Was Right by Anthony Trollope

Many arts of indirection were employed by eligible madames, monsieurs, and visiting notables of both sexes to remove that invisible yet formidable barrier of reserve.

From Oswald Langdon or, Pierre and Paul Lanier. A Romance of 1894-1898 by Carson Jay Lee

Oh Lud," said Harry, "here's more fair madames in the mud.

From The Highwayman by H. C. (Henry Christopher) Bailey

Ladies and gentlemen, messieurs et mesdames, le cheeseburger.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2024

But from a Scottish perspective this now has the appearance of a bizarre game of high stakes poker between mesdames May and Sturgeon.

From The Guardian ● Apr. 18, 2017

And Paul H. Canada, the costume designer, wickedly dresses Molière’s mesdames in cartoon couture.

From New York Times ● Jul. 4, 2014

Je vous prie d'agréer, mesdames, messieurs, l'expression de mes sentiments distingués", while across the Channel we'll be concluding our correspondence with "Laters, yeah?

From The Guardian ● Jul. 17, 2013

Even so, the social columnists still did not write about his wife’s dresses when he and she attended the opera, the way they described the nightly couture of mesdames Palmer, Pullman, and Armour.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson