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madam

noun
mad·​am | \ ˈma-dəm How to pronounce madam (audio) \
plural madams

Definition of madam

1a plural mesdames\ mā-​ˈdĂ€m How to pronounce mesdames (audio) , -​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 ChairmanMadam President
3 : the female head of a house of prostitution
4 : the female 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 More Example Sentences Learn More about madam

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Synonyms for madam

Synonyms

helpmate, helpmeet, lady, little woman, missus (or missis), Mrs., old lady, wife, wifey, woman [chiefly dialect]

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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

 Investigators, who served search warrants at multiple locations, recovered a plastic bag containing pills allegedly supplied by a prostitute and a madam. — Andrew Blankstein, NBC News, "Prosecutors charge man in connection with death of rapper Mac Miller," 4 Sep. 2019 After stints in Sacramento and Sonora, where Belle worked as a madam and Charles continued his lucrative gambling trade, the couple came to San Francisco. — Gary Kamiya, SFChronicle.com, "San Francisco love story: A hooker, her gambling man and a hanging," 23 Aug. 2019 This year, there was also the pirate Jean Lafitte and the madam Josie Arlington, who ran a brothel in Storyville. — Sarah M. Broom, The New Yorker, "Who Stays Gone, and Who Can Afford to Return," 12 Aug. 2019 In the aftermath of Jeffrey Epstein’s apparent suicide, the focus on Ghislaine Maxwell, a British heiress and Epstein’s alleged madam, has intensified. — Kristen Bellstrom, Fortune, "A New Female Fortune 500 CEO Meets the Glass Cliff: The Broadsheet," 13 Aug. 2019 Ghislaine Maxwell was, according to her accusers, Jeffrey Epstein's protector and procurer, his girlfriend and his madam. — Marc Fisher, Anchorage Daily News, "Epstein’s death puts spotlight on girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell," 12 Aug. 2019 Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty: The sheriff and the brothel madam. — J.d. Crowe | [email protected], al.com, "Can John Merrill out-homophobe Roy Moore?," 18 July 2019 From portraying a kickass madam in Sin City to her turn as a superhero-healing nurse in Netflix's Marvel series, the Hollywood vet is no stranger to pulse-pounding roles. — Taylore Glynn, Marie Claire, "Rosario Dawson on Meditation, Skincare Secrets, and the Health Habit She Shares with Cory Booker," 7 June 2019 The first follows newlyweds expecting their first child, the second a brash older madam on a green bicycle. — Sarah Neilson, The Seattle Times, "Ilya Kaminsky’s ‘Deaf Republic’ challenges and incites," 29 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'madam.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of madam

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

History and Etymology for madam

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

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More Definitions for madam

madam

noun
How to pronounce madam (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of madam

formal —used to politely speak to a woman who you do not know
—used at the start of a formal letter to a woman whose name you do not know
—used when you are speaking to a woman who has a high rank or position

See the full definition for madam in the English Language Learners Dictionary

madam

noun
mad·​am | \ ˈma-dəm How to pronounce madam (audio) \
plural mesdames\ mā-​ˈdĂ€m , -​ˈdam \

Kids Definition of madam

—used without a name as a form of polite address to a woman May I help you, madam?

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More from Merriam-Webster on madam

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with madam

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for madam

Spanish Central: Translation of madam

Nglish: Translation of madam for Spanish Speakers

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