madam

[ mad-uhm ]

/ ˈmæd əm /

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See synonyms for: madam / mesdames on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural mes·dames

[mey-dam, -dahm] /meɪˈdæm, -ˈdɑm/ for 1; mad·ams for 2, 3.

(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?

the woman in charge of a household: Is the madam at home?

the woman in charge of a house of prostitution.

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Origin of madam

1250–1300; Middle English madame<Old French, originally ma dame my lady; see dame

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH madam

madam , madame

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use madam in a sentence

This leaves workers dependent on pimps and madams for protection, which often leads to more violence.
Why It's Time to Legalize Prostitution|Cathy Reisenwitz|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The few resident males are either biological sons or “baboos” (lovers) of the successful madams.
‘Whores’ Glory’: An Interview With Michael Glawogger|Tracy Quan|April 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Suddenly I had madams, girls, and FBI informants on the phone.
The Complex Lives of Escorts|Marty Beckerman|May 19, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Legally speaking, madams, agency owners, and telephone bookers take on a more-serious risk than do most escorts.
Should Call Girls Kiss and Tell?|Tracy Quan|March 9, 2009|DAILY BEAST

What will be the price of the plaintiff's pleadings then, Madams?
Baboo Jabberjee, B.A.|F. Anstey
With two Hoh-Madams she accosted the frighted fair-one; who, terrified, caught hold of my sleeve.
Clarissa, Volume 6 (of 9)|Samuel Richardson
And two young peasant madams in charge, in the brown costume, rather sordid, and with folded white cloths on their heads.
Sea and Sardinia|D. H. Lawrence
Try as he might, he, the designer of fabulously rare head-dresses, could not induce this charming Madams hair to stay coiffed.
The Beaver, Vol. 1, February, 1921, No. 5|Hudson's Bay Company
But there were other Madams and Mademoiselles boarding that train.
The Magic Curtain|Roy J. Snell

British Dictionary definitions for madam

madam

/ (ˈmædəm) /

noun plural madams or for sense 1 mesdames (ˈmeɪˌdæm)

a polite term of address for a woman, esp one considered to be of relatively high social status

a woman who runs a brothel

British informal a precocious or pompous little girl

the madam Southern African informal the lady of the house

Word Origin for madam

C13: from Old French ma dame my lady

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

madam

Origin of madam

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH madam

Words related to madam

How to use madam in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for madam

Word Origin for madam