lady
Pluralladies
Pluralladies
- 1A woman. People often say lady to be polite instead of woman.
A kind lady helped me find my way to the station.
Several ladies were waiting quietly outside the office.
Similarwoman
Note
- 2
- 3A woman who comes from an important family or who is in charge of others.
She carried herself like a true lady at every event.
The great ladies of the court wore silk gowns.
Similargentlewoman, noblewoman, aristocrat
Note
- 4A title used before the name of a woman of high rank or the wife of a knight or lord.
The butler announced Lady Pembury as she entered the ballroom.
When her husband was knighted, she became Lady Whitcombe.
UsageWrite Lady with a capital before a name.
- 5A casual way to call out to a woman you do not know.
Hey, lady, you forgot your change at the counter!
Come on, lady, the light is already green.
UsageHey, lady! can sound rude to a stranger.
Similarmiss
- 6A person's wife or girlfriend.
He bought flowers for his lady before their date.
My lady and I are going to the movies tonight.
UsageSay my lady for your wife or girlfriend.
Similarsweetheart, girlfriend, partner, wife, girl
Note
- 7A woman who is in charge of a home or estate, like a lord is.
The king made her lady of all the land north of the river.
The lady of the house gave the servants their orders each morning.
UsageSay the lady of the house.
Similarmistress
Note
- 8
Less common meanings
- 9
- 10
- 11An informal name for the queen in cards or in chess.
He played the lady to take the trick.
She was holding two ladies in her hand.
UsageIn rules, say queen.
Similarqueen
- 12A woman who has good manners and treats others with care and respect, whatever her background.
My grandmother grew up poor, but she was a true lady all her life.
She waited her turn and helped the old man with his bags, like the real lady she is.
UsageSay someone is a real lady.
- 13A name that Christians use to honor Mary, the mother of Jesus, often as Our Lady.
Every May, the children bring flowers to the statue of Our Lady.
Grandma lights a candle to Our Lady before each long trip.
UsageOften used in church names, like Our Lady of Lourdes.
SimilarMadonna
- 14Alternative form of Lady: in Wicca, a name for the Goddess, who is often honored together with the Lord.
- 15To call a woman "lady" when speaking to her.
- 16In British slang, a five-pound note.
- 17The grinding part inside a lobster's stomach, made of hard, chalky plates.
Showing meanings only.
More uses
- ladiesa women's public toilet
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of lady apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
From Old English hlǣfdīġe, meaning the mistress of a household. It literally meant "bread-kneader," from hlāf ("bread, loaf") plus dīġe ("kneader").
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts
- Lady derives from Old English hlǣfdīġe. en.wikipedia.org
- Hlǣfdīġe meant the mistress of a household. en.wiktionary.org
- Its literal etymological meaning was bread-kneader. lrc.la.utexas.edu
- The first element is hlāf, meaning bread or loaf. en.wikipedia.org
- The second element, dīġe, means kneader. lrc.la.utexas.edu