young lady
Americannoun
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a young, usually unmarried woman of refinement, grace, etc.
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any young woman.
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a girlfriend; sweetheart; fiancée.
noun
Etymology
Origin of young lady
late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The young lady is incredibly brave to come forward to report,” said Deputy Dist.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026
“People are ignoring the fact that this young lady is dead,” he said.
From Salon • Feb. 21, 2026
Yeah, I wanted to use girls because these albums have such a voice of standing up for yourself as a young lady.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 26, 2025
"All I’m saying is that a young lady, a 10-year-old-girl, 9-year-old girl, 15-year-old-girl, doesn’t need 37 dolls," he said, not knowing that high schoolers don't usually play with dolls.
From Salon • May 7, 2025
“Nicely, thank you, Mr. Laurence. But I am not Miss March, I’m only Jo,” returned the young lady.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.