madame

noun

ma·​dame mə-ˈdam 

ma-ˈdam,

 before a surname also  ˈma-dəm

1

plural mesdames mā-ˈdäm 

-ˈdam

—used as a title equivalent to Mrs. for a married woman not of English-speaking nationality

2

plural madames : madam sense 3

Examples of madame in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The madame of the brothel network that operated in the suburbs of Boston and Washington D.C. will spend four years in prison. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2025

The film follows two part-tribal sisters trained as servants by an English madame on a Himalayan colonial estate. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 Nov. 2024

In the hexagonal entryway, the air smelled lightly of roses and musk, as if an elegant madame had passed through the space just before us. —Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024

There are also figures like Carmen Ejogo's Eve Karlo, Oz's lover and a madame of the night. —EW.com, 12 Sep. 2024

Well, mesdames et messieurs, Kylie, for all her daring, is nothing compared to the delusionally ambitious French. —Drew Goins, Washington Post, 26 July 2024

Meanwhile, Vargas’ enquiries become progressively more obfuscated by the American cop Hank Quinlan (Welles), a besotted incarnation of corruption who alternately conspires with Susie’s captors and seeks solace in the brothel of the Gypsy madame (Marlene Dietrich) who comforted him in bygone times. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 June 2023

To illustrate the pride of the French housewife dedicated to cleanliness, Mr. Sempé drew madame polishing the tracks of a railroad line that ran just outside her front gate. —Robert D. McFadden, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Aug. 2022

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French ma dame

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing madame

• croque madame

Rhymes for madame

• madam
• macadam

Kids Definition

madame

noun

ma·​dame mə-ˈdam 

ma-ˈdam,

 before a surname also  ˌmad-əm

plural mesdames mā-ˈdäm 

-ˈdam

—used as a title equivalent to Mrs. for a married woman not of English-speaking nationality