grande dame

noun

ˈgrän-ˈdäm 

plural grandes dames ˈgrän-ˈdäm(z)  also grande dames ˈgrän-ˈdäm(z) 

1

: a usually elderly woman of great prestige or ability

2

: granddaddy sense 2

Synonyms

• dame
• dowager
• matriarch
• matron

Examples of grande dame in a Sentence

the city's grandes dames still hold considerable sway in its cultural life

Recent Examples on the Web

The 388-room grande dame of the island is more than 130 years old. —Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 14 Apr. 2025

Amenities and Experiences Floral arrangements are often a hallmark of grande dame hotels, and Corinthia Bucharest prominently showcases master florist Nicu Bocancea’s (founder of Romania’s luxe floral boutique Iris) elegantly tiered displays in the entryway and at Boulevard 73. —Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2025

Daisy will always be our grande dame, Tennessee’s First Lady of Southern Cooking. —Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025

Gaga is thirty-eight now—a grande dame in pop years. —Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, great lady

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for grande dame

• aspartame
• counterclaim
• overcame
• underframe
• username
• acclaim
• aflame
• airframe
• ballgame
• became
• declaim
• defame