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.
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