ladylike
adjective
la·dy·like
ˈlā-dē-ˌlīk 
1
: of a kind traditionally considered suitable to or attractive for a woman
Mrs. Douglas arrived for the March 1st meeting at park headquarters wearing her white spring coat, her ladylike Panama hat, and a single strand of white beads.—
Dava Sobel
Dava SobelYves Saint Laurent gives a perfectly proper, ladylike suit a powerful punch by cutting it in python.—The New York Times Magazine
The New York Times MagazineCharlotte, who is known to be a tomboy, topped off her ladylike look with a matching bow in her hair.—Aurora Bosotti
Aurora Bosotti2
: having or showing the appearance or good manners traditionally associated with aristocratic women
her polite, ladylike mother
ladylike elegance
… it didn't seem quite ladylike to say something like that, straight out.—Katherine Paterson
Katherine PatersonJill was putting ladylike bites of turnip in her mouth and washing them down with long, quiet sips of water.—Molly Tripp
Molly Tripp3
: feeling or showing too much concern about elegance or propriety
This plot turns on the sisters' ladylike reluctance to examine the question of their kittens' sex too directly …—June Howard
June Howard4
: having qualities traditionally associated with a woman : womanly
And Vincent hired a voice coach to teach her to talk like a guy … . Ned also came with a dusting of fake stubble for Vincent's smooth, pink, ladylike cheeks …—Lev Grossman
Lev GrossmanEach step he takes, delicate, cautious, even ladylike, the step, perhaps, of a man whose eyesight is not altogether reliable …—Robert Kantwell
Robert KantwellExamples of ladylike in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Here, contexts are reconfigured and layering is an act that’s less about pairing and more about juxtaposition which creates a ladylike silhouette.
—Gemma A. Williams, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
In other words, take this whole ladylike idea from head-to-toe.
—Kerry Pieri, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2025
Make the Coat the Outfit This simple yet stylish outfit looks extra ladylike thanks to a few choice details: a slim-fit coat in navy blue, a purse cinching the waist, and a pair of yellow shoes packed with embellishments.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2025
Bows, Ruffles, and Lace Galore The Rococo style is known for being ladylike and delicate, so don’t be afraid to incorporate plenty of bows, ruffles, and lace in your party decor.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ladylike
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Gemma A. Williams, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
In other words, take this whole ladylike idea from head-to-toe.
—Kerry Pieri, Vogue, 18 Feb. 2025
Make the Coat the Outfit This simple yet stylish outfit looks extra ladylike thanks to a few choice details: a slim-fit coat in navy blue, a purse cinching the waist, and a pair of yellow shoes packed with embellishments.
—Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 13 Feb. 2025
Bows, Ruffles, and Lace Galore The Rococo style is known for being ladylike and delicate, so don’t be afraid to incorporate plenty of bows, ruffles, and lace in your party decor.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ladylike
Cite this Entry
“Ladylike.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ladylike. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ladylike
adjective
la·dy·like
ˈlād-ē-ˌlīk
1
: resembling a lady in appearance or manners
2
: suitable to a lady
ladylike behavior
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share