old lady

American  

noun

Informal.

• old ladies
  plural

1. a mother, usually one's own.

2. a wife.

3. a girlfriend or female lover, especially a female lover with whom one cohabits.

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old lady British  

noun

1. an informal term for mother 1 wife

2. a large noctuid moth, Mormo maura, that has drab patterned wings originally thought to resemble an elderly Victorian lady's shawl

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• old ladies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of old lady

First recorded in 1775–85

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

old lady

Happily, there’s a solution for their plight—one that leaves a lucky old lady with a collection of better-than-average lawn ornaments.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

"I can live to an old lady with these kidneys and that is phenomenal. My heart's much better, my lungs much better. My blood disorder is no longer there," she said.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

“Those last scenes with me looking like a lonely old lady walking hunched over in the garden? Boy, I told him to get rid of those,” she said, referring to the documentary’s director, R.J.

From Salon ● Apr. 16, 2026

Read on: Want to be a rich old lady?

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 16, 2026

“Upon my word, here’s a state of things!” cried the old lady, taking the seat of honor prepared for her, and settling the folds of her lavender moire with a great rustle.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

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Related Words

• bride
• lover
• spouse
• wife

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