maiden

1 of 2

noun

maid·​en ˈmā-dᵊn 

1

: an unmarried girl or woman : maid

2

: a former Scottish beheading device resembling the guillotine (see guillotine sense 1)

3

: a horse that has never won a race

maiden

2 of 2

adjective

1

a(1)

: not married

a maiden aunt

(2)

: virgin

b of a female animal

(1)

: never yet mated

(2)

: never having borne young

2

: of, relating to, or befitting a maiden

3

: first, earliest

a ship's maiden voyage

the maiden flight of a spacecraft

Synonyms

Noun

• damsel
• demoiselle
• girl
• maid
• miss

Adjective

• earliest
• first
• foremost
• headmost
• inaugural
• initial
• leadoff
• original
• pioneer
• premier
• virgin

Examples of maiden in a Sentence

Noun

a story about a courageous knight who rescues a fair maiden

a story about a beautiful maiden and her mysterious father

Adjective

the maiden issue of a new magazine

a politician giving his maiden speech in the Senate

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Bianconeri will be hoping that the Dutch international – who was named in the Serie A Team of the Season last term for his displays with Atalanta – takes his own advice, turning in one of his best performances here and netting a long overdue maiden goal for the club. —Adam Digby, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024

Several presidents were among the passengers; Margaret Truman, a president's daughter, came along for the record-breaking maiden voyage. —Steve Inskeep, NPR, 20 Nov. 2024

Adjective

The Disney Destiny, another ship in the Wish style of ships, will mark its maiden voyage on Nov. 20, 2025, sailing to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. —Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024

On the Treasure, which takes its maiden voyage in December, Disney fans will find the first cruise ship bar themed to a Disney ride: the Haunted Mansion. —Natasha Chen, CNN, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English, from Old English mægden, mǣden, diminutive of mægeth; akin to Old High German magad maiden, Old Irish mug serf

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

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

Phrases Containing maiden

• iron maiden
• maiden name
• sea-maiden

Kids Definition

maiden

1 of 2 noun

maid·​en ˈmād-ᵊn 

: a young unmarried girl or woman

maidenhood

-ˌhu̇d

noun

maidenly

-lē

adjective

maiden

2 of 2 adjective

1

a

: not married

maiden aunt

b

: virgin entry 2 sense 1

2

: of or relating to a maiden

3

: coming before all others : first, earliest

maiden voyage