madame

noun

ma·​dame mə-ˈdam How to pronounce madame (audio)
ma-ˈdam,
 before a surname also  ˈma-dəm
1
plural mesdames mā-ˈdäm How to pronounce madame (audio)
-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
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.
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

Time Traveler
The first known use of madame was in 1617

Dictionary Entries Near madame

Cite this Entry

“Madame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/madame. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

madame

noun
ma·​dame mə-ˈdam How to pronounce madame (audio)
ma-ˈdam,
 before a surname also  ˌmad-əm
plural mesdames mā-ˈdäm How to pronounce madame (audio)
-ˈdam
used as a title equivalent to Mrs. for a married woman not of English-speaking nationality

More from Merriam-Webster on madame

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!