grande dame

noun

ˈgrän-ˈdäm 

plural grandes dames ˈgrän-ˈdäm(z)  also grande dames ˈgrän-ˈdäm(z) 

1

: a usually elderly woman of great prestige or ability

2

: granddaddy sense 2

Synonyms

• dame
• dowager
• matriarch
• matron

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

For decades, the flagship on Fifth Avenue and 58th Street housed a custom salon, an atelier bustling with seamstresses catering to the sartorial whims of society’s grande dames. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024

But for now, this grande dame is ready to throw her doors wide open, fill up her social calendar, and bask in the glare of flashbulbs once again. —Elissaveta M. Brandon, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2024

The Bizarre Bazaar is the grande dame of Richmond-area holiday markets. —Karri Peifer, Axios, 5 Dec. 2024

This November, Vogue asked five cultural figures known for their eye-catching aesthetics—from James Beard Award-winning chefs, to fashion designers, to society grande dames—to create an inspirational tablescape for Vogue. —Elise Taylor, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, great lady

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1