señorita

American  

[sayn-yuh-ree-tuh, seen-, se-nyaw-ree-tah] / ˌseɪn jəˈri tə, ˌsin-, sɛ njɔˈri tɑ /

noun

• señoritas
  plural

1. a Spanish term of address equivalent to miss, used alone or capitalized and prefixed to the name of a girl or unmarried woman. Srta.

2. a cigar-shaped wrasse, Oxyjulis californica, found off the coast of California, olive brown above shading to creamy white below.

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señorita British  

/ ˌsɛnjɔːˈriːtə, seɲoˈrita /

noun

1. an unmarried Spanish or Spanish-speaking woman: a title of address equivalent to Miss when placed before a name or madam or miss when used alone

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• señoritas
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of señorita

1815–25, < Spanish, diminutive of señora ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

señorita señoritas

At that novel’s end, the lovely señorita appears set to become a second Señora Vega, but her flashing eyes must have lost their dazzle since we never hear of her again.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 10, 2019

“You know, without family, you won’t make it in this life. And now that you’re older, you have to learn how to be a nice señorita just like your sister, may she rest in peace.”

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez

At the training camp they said the words señora, señorita, and señor separate people by age and status.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

The small group stands staring at the sagging tire a moment, the two men kicking at it as if punishing it for having failed the señorita.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

Nothing I wore was señorita enough for her.

From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez

People dressed in mid-19th-century finery to depict soldiers, dons, and señoritas of the era.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2022

The great matador gnashes his teeth while the señoritas throw flowers and jewels at the doctor’s feet.

From New York Times ● Sep. 9, 2020

Hundreds of coaches, filled with flowers and gay señoritas singing Mexican songs and throwing confetti, passed endlessly up and down the streets.

From Time Magazine Archive

Inside the basket were a dozen dark-haired Barbie dolls dressed like Spanish señoritas.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

Six señoritas in long, fitted dresses with flaring skirts and castanets in their hands flounced onto the stage.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

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