Phrase guide

grande dame

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation, plural, singular: /ˌɡɹɒ̃ ˈdɑːm/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɡɹɒn(d)-/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American, plural, singular: /ˌɡɹɑnd ˈdɑm/
  • General-American: /ˌɡɹænd-/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɑːm
  • rhymes with -ɑm

1

noun

Meaning 1

A woman who is high-ranking, socially prominent, or has a dignified character, especially one who is advanced in age and haughty.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: also, attributive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: dowager, doyenne, grande madame

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A woman who is accomplished and influential, and is a respected senior figure in a particular field; a doyenne.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: also, attributive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A very highly regarded and well-known institution or structure, or large conveyance such as a ship.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: also, attributive, figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a middle-aged or elderly woman who is stylish and highly respected

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: dame, madam, ma'am, lady, gentlewoman

History

Etymology

Borrowed from French grande dame, from grande (the feminine form of grand (“great, grand”)) + dame (“lady”). Doublet of grandam. The plural form grandes dames is borrowed from French grandes dames.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: arvokas rouva — woman who is high-ranking, socially prominent, or has a dignified character
  • French: grande dame — woman who is high-ranking, socially prominent, or has a dignified character
  • Hebrew: גבירה כבודה — woman who is high-ranking, socially prominent, or has a dignified character
  • Hebrew: גבירה אריסטוקרטית — woman who is high-ranking, socially prominent, or has a dignified character
  • Hebrew: גבירה מרשימה — woman who is high-ranking, socially prominent, or has a dignified character
  • Finnish: kuningatar — very highly regarded and well-known institution or structure, or large conveyance