grande dame

noun

plural grandes dames ˈgrän-ˈdäm(z) How to pronounce grande dame (audio) also grande dames ˈgrän-ˈdäm(z) How to pronounce grande dame (audio)
1
: a usually elderly woman of great prestige or ability
2

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
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.
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 This Viennese grande dame is the place to see and be seen. Katharina Kotrba, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for grande dame

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, great lady

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grande dame was in 1775

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Cite this Entry

“Grande dame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grande%20dame. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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