An old-fashioned or extremely polite word for "woman" is lady. A waiter who's trying to be charming might say, "Can I get anything else for you ladies?"
There are instances when lady is the right word to use, but woman almost always sounds more modern and appropriate. Public speakers and announcers commonly use the phrase "ladies and gentlemen" to address a group of men and women, and if you're meeting a noblewoman, she may very well expect to be called "Lady Gertrude." Sometimes, ironically, lady is used in a rough, rude way: "Hey lady, out of my way!"
Definitions of lady
noun
a polite name for any woman
“a nice lady at the library helped me”
see moresee less- type of:
- adult female, woman
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
- adult female, woman
noun
a woman of refinement
“a chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady”
- synonyms:dame, gentlewoman, ma'am, madam
see moresee less- types:
- grande dame
a middle-aged or elderly woman who is stylish and highly respected
- madame
title used for a married Frenchwoman
- type of:
- adult female, woman
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
- grande dame
Word Family
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Test prep from the experts
Boost your test score with programs developed by Vocabulary.com’s experts.
- Proven methods: Learn faster, remember longer with our scientific approach.
- Personalized plan: We customize your experience to maximize your learning.
- Strategic studying: Focus on the words that are most crucial for success.
