madame

American  

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

noun

(often initial capital letter)

mesdames 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  

/ madam, ˈmædəm /

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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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

Emily Kuroda as take-charge producer Madame Liang and Marc Oka as Wang, Ta’s old-school father, throw themselves into the revival with full farcical force.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

Despite the risks, Lucas begins carrying coded notes for Madame Garnier and befriends one of the young mothers, Claire, and her baby boy, at the maternity home.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Her 76th and final show will not be a "retrospective, but full of nods" to her past work, she told Madame Figaro magazine in early January.

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

The designer of a second smaller sculpture has also been announced as Karen Newman, who once made waxwork models at Madame Tussauds, including Prince Philip.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026

During these days Madame Ionesco kept to herself.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood