madam

noun

mad·​am ˈma-dəm 

plural madams

1

a

plural mesdames mā-ˈdäm 

-ˈdam

: lady

—used without a name as a form of respectful or polite address to a woman

Right this way, madam.

b

Madam

—used as a conventional form of address in the salutation of a letter

2

: mistress sense 1

—used as a title formerly with the given name but now with the surname or especially with a designation of rank or office

Madam Chairman

Madam President

3

: a woman who runs a brothel

4

: a woman who is the head of a household : wife

Every once in a while the madam and I will order a book that we've read about …

—H. S. Truman

Synonyms

• wife

Examples of madam in a Sentence

the madam and I are planning to go out for a nice dinner on our anniversary

Recent Examples on the Web

Prostitution was never legal in Central City, but the industry and people involved were prominent enough to warrant an annual street festival that still exists today, honoring the city’s most famous madam, Lou Bunch. —Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 20 June 2025

On another occasion, Heidi Fleiss, the infamous Hollywood madam turned animal-rights activist, vented to me about a powerful movie financier several years ago at her ramshackle property in the remote Nevada desert. —Gary Baum, People.com, 9 June 2025

The film scored no top-line awards or nominations, but the HBO reboot, which premiered in 2016, landed 54 Emmy nominations and nine wins across its four-season run, including a 2018 trophy for Thandiwe Newton (lead actress, drama) for her performance as the series’ cunning madam, Maeve Millay. —Randee Dawn, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2025

In 1946, right after World War II, former San Francisco madam Sally Sanford bought the by-then vacant buildings and reopened it as the Valhalla. —Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 21 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French ma dame, literally, my lady

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for madam

• madame
• macadam

Kids Definition

madam

noun

mad·​am ˈmad-əm 

plural mesdames mā-ˈdäm 

-ˈdam

1

—used as a form of polite address to a woman

2

capitalized

—used as a title especially before the name of rank or office of a high-ranking woman

Madam President

Etymology

Middle English madam "woman of rank or authority, lady," from early French ma dame, literally "my lady," from Latin domina "mistress, lady," feminine form of dominus "master, owner" — related to dame, dominate, madonna