demi-mondaine

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A woman of questionable reputation: A "demi-mondaine" refers to a woman belonging to the "demi-monde" — a social class of women who live on the fringes of respectable society, often associated with being a courtesan or a kept woman. The term implies a woman who is not a prostitute but whose lifestyle is considered morally or socially dubious, typically through relationships with wealthy men.
Usage Examples
  • (A woman of questionable reputation in a social setting.)
  • (A recurring character type in fiction.)
Advanced Usage
  • "To lead a demi-mondaine existence": To live a life on the margins of respectable society, often involving luxury but also social exclusion.
    • After her divorce, she chose a demi-mondaine existence rather than remarrying for security. (She lived as a woman outside conventional society.)
Variants and Related Words
  • Demi-monde (n): The social world of women of questionable reputation; also, by extension, any group living on the fringes of mainstream society.
    • The demimonde of artists and bohemians fascinated the public. (The fringe social group.)
  • Demi-mondain (adj, rare): Relating to or characteristic of the demimonde.
    • Her demi-mondain airs were a deliberate affectation. (Her mannerisms suggested a demimonde background.)
Synonyms
  • Courtesan: A woman who is a prostitute, especially one with wealthy or upper-class clients.
  • Kept woman: A woman who is financially supported by a lover, often in exchange for companionship or sexual favors.
  • Adventuress: A woman who seeks social or financial advancement through daring or unscrupulous means.
Related Idioms

  • A woman of easy virtue (dated): A euphemism for a woman who is sexually promiscuous or a prostitute.

    • The village gossips called her a woman of easy virtue. (They considered her immoral.)

  • Fallen woman (historical): A woman who has lost her reputation by engaging in sexual activity outside marriage.

    • In Victorian novels, the fallen woman is often a tragic figure. (A woman who has transgressed social norms.)