Lady — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈlā-dē/ la·dy

Meaning & Definition of Lady

Lady (noun)

  1. a woman having proprietary rights or authority especially as a feudal superior
  2. a woman receiving the homage or devotion of a knight or lover
  3. virgin mary —usually used with Our

Lady (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an adult female human being

    "ladies and gentlemen, please observe closely, said the magician"

    similar: female, woman
    related: dame, gentlewoman, madam, madame, senora, babe (slang), beauty, belle, damsel, doll, gal, girl, ingenue, lass, lassie, mademoiselle, maid, maiden, miss, senorita

  2. a female partner in a marriage

    "in public the husband was frequently seen holding hands with his lady"

    similar: helpmate, helpmeet, madam, missus, Mrs., old lady, wife, wifey, woman (chiefly dialect)
    related: bride, better half, companion, consort, mate, partner, significant other, soulmate, spouse, dowager, matron, hausfrau, homemaker, housekeeper, housewife, stay-at-home, widow

  3. a woman of high birth or social position

    "the ladies of the royal court were all dressed extravagantly"

    similar: dame, gentlewoman, milady, noblewoman, peeress
    related: baroness, countess, duchess, marchesa, marchioness, marquise, princess, queen, viscountess, dowager, matriarch, matron, mistress, ladyship, madam

  4. a female romantic companion

    "when do we get to meet your new lady?"

    similar: gal, gill, girl, girlfriend, inamorata, ladylove, old lady, woman
    related: mistress, moll, beloved, darling, dear, favorite, flame, honey, love, lover, significant other, sweet, sweetheart, valentine

Related Entry: Lady-in-waiting (noun)

Lady-in-waiting is a different word from Lady. The synonyms below are for lady-in-waiting, not for lady.

  1. as in abigail, maid-in-waiting

    similar: abigail, maid-in-waiting, attendant, chambermaid, au pair, nursemaid, biddy, char (British), charwoman, handmaiden, house girl, housekeeper, housemaid, maid, maidservant, skivvy (British), wench (old-fashioned), domestic, menial, amah, ayah

Related Entry: Lady-killer (noun)

Lady-killer is a different word from Lady. The synonyms below are for lady-killer, not for lady.

  1. as in lover, paramour

    similar: amorist, gallant, ladies' man, lover, paramour, Romeo, Casanova, Don Juan, lecher, lothario, lounge lizard, masher, philanderer, satyr, wolf, womanizer, debaucher, romancer, seducer, whoremaster, whoremonger

Related Entry: Lady-killers (noun)

Lady-killers is a different word from Lady. The synonyms below are for lady-killers, not for lady.

  1. as in lovers, paramours

    similar: amorists, gallants, ladies' men, lovers, paramours, Romeos, Casanovas, Don Juans, lechers, lotharios, lounge lizards, mashers, philanderers, satyrs, wolves, womanizers, debauchers, romancers, seducers, whoremasters, whoremongers

Related Entry: Dragon lady (noun)

Dragon lady is a different word from Lady. The synonyms below are for dragon lady, not for lady.

  1. a bad-tempered scolding woman

    "a conniving dragon lady, their mother attempted to dominate their lives well into their adult years"

    similar: battle-ax, fury, harpy, harridan, shrew, termagant, virago, vixen
    related: fishwife, gorgon, carper, castigator, caviler, censurer, critic, faultfinder, nitpicker, railer, scold, belittler, derider, detractor, pettifogger, quibbler

Related Entry: Old lady (noun)

Old lady is a different word from Lady. The synonyms below are for old lady, not for lady.

  1. a female human parent

    "the story is that my old lady wanted to name me Cecil, but the old man prevailed"

    similar: ma, mama, mammy, mater (chiefly British), mom, mommy, mother
    related: materfamilias, matriarch, matron, stepmother, supermom, superwoman

  2. the female partner in a marriage

    "he jokingly commented that he'd love to buy a sports car, but his old lady would throw a fit"

    similar: helpmate, helpmeet, lady, madam, missus, Mrs., wife, wifey, woman (chiefly dialect)
    related: bride, better half, companion, consort, mate, partner, significant other, soulmate, spouse, dowager, matron, hausfrau, homemaker, housekeeper, housewife, stay-at-home, widow

  3. a female romantic companion

    "if he ever tried stepping out on her, his old lady would fill him with buckshot"

    similar: gal, gill, girl, girlfriend, inamorata, lady, ladylove, woman
    related: mistress, moll, beloved, darling, dear, favorite, flame, honey, love, lover, significant other, sweet, sweetheart, valentine

Related Entry: First lady (noun)

First lady is a different word from Lady. The synonyms below are for first lady, not for lady.

  1. as in grand old man

    similar: grand old man, fixture, institution, icon, symbol, dean, elder statesman

Related Entry: Leading lady (noun)

Leading lady is a different word from Lady. The synonyms below are for leading lady, not for lady.

  1. as in leading man

    similar: leading man, headliner, lead, principal, star, superstar, ingenue, starlet, star turn (chiefly British), coprincipal, costar
    opposite: extra, supernumerary

Related Entry: Ladies' man (noun)

Ladies' man is a different word from Lady. The synonyms below are for ladies' man, not for lady.

  1. a man who enjoys being with and giving attention to women

    "He considered himself a real ladies' man."

    similar: captivator, charmer, smoothy, cavalier, gentleman, Galahad, knight, prince, beau, Beau Brummell, blade, blood, buck, dandy, dude, fop, gallant, jay, petit-maître, aristocrat, patrician, swell

Related Entry: Ladies' men (noun)

Ladies' men is a different word from Lady. The synonyms below are for ladies' men, not for lady.

  1. a man who enjoys being with and giving attention to women

    "He considered himself a real ladies' man."

    similar: captivators, charmers, smoothies, cavaliers, gentlemen, Galahads, knights, princes, Beau Brummells, beaux, blades, blood, bucks, dandies, dudes, fops, gallants, jays, petits-maîtres, aristocrats, patricians, swells

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Lady

The most common words with a similar meaning to Lady:

Chiefly dialect: woman
female, helpmate, helpmeet, madam, missus, Mrs., old lady, wife, wifey, dame, gentlewoman, milady, noblewoman, peeress, gal, gill, girl, girlfriend, inamorata, ladylove

Related Words for Lady

madame, senora, babe, beauty, belle, damsel, doll, ingenue, lass, lassie, mademoiselle, maid, maiden, miss, senorita, bride, better half, companion, consort, mate, partner, significant other, soulmate, spouse, dowager, matron, hausfrau, homemaker, housekeeper, housewife

Word Forms of Lady

Inflections: ladies

Origin & Etymology of Lady

Middle English, from Old English hlǣfdige, from hlāf bread + -dige (akin to dǣge kneader of bread) loaf, dairy

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Lady

Words & Phrases Containing Lady

lady apple, lady chapel, Lady Day, lady-in-waiting, lady-killer, lady of the house, Lady of the Lake, lady's mantle, lady's slipper

Frequently Asked Questions about Lady

What does "Lady" mean?

"Lady" means a woman having proprietary rights or authority especially as a feudal superior. As a noun, it is defined as: a woman having proprietary rights or authority especially as a feudal superior. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Lady"?

Other words for "Lady" include female, woman, helpmate, helpmeet, madam, missus, Mrs. and old lady. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Lady" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Lady"?

There are 77 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Lady". Common alternatives include female, woman, helpmate, helpmeet, madam, missus, Mrs., old lady, wife and wifey.

How do you use "Lady" in a sentence?

Examples of "Lady" in a sentence: "ladies and gentlemen, please observe closely, said the magician"; "in public the husband was frequently seen holding hands with his lady"; "the ladies of the royal court were all dressed extravagantly".

Is "Lady" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Lady" is a noun.

Is "Lady" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Lady" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Lady"?

"Lady" is pronounced /ˈlā-dē/ and divided into syllables as la·dy.

What is the origin of the word "Lady"?

"Lady" comes from Middle English, from Old English hlǣfdige, from hlāf bread + -dige (akin to dǣge kneader of bread) loaf, dairy. First known use: before 12th century.