ladies
Definition
- Noun (plural of ):
- Women of good social standing: "ladies" refers to women who are polite, refined, or of a certain social status.
- A polite term for women: Used as a respectful or formal way to address or refer to a group of women.
- A women's public restroom: In British English, "ladies" (often as "the ladies' room") denotes a toilet facility for women.
Usage Examples
- Women of good social standing:
- The ladies of the manor attended the charity gala. (The refined women from the estate were present.)
- Polite term for women:
- Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. (A formal address to a mixed audience.)
- A women's public restroom:
- Excuse me, where is the ladies? (Where is the women's toilet?)
Advanced Usage
- "Ladies' man": a man who is popular with or often flirts with women.
- He's a bit of a ladies' man, always charming the women at parties. (He is known for being attractive to women.)
- "Ladies' choice": a dance or activity where women choose their partners.
- At the ball, it was ladies' choice for the next waltz. (Women selected their dance partners.)
Variants and Related Words
- Lady (n): the singular form; a woman of high social position or polite manners.
- She is a true lady — always gracious and kind. (She behaves with refinement.)
- Lady-like (adj): having the qualities of a lady; polite and graceful.
- Her lady-like comportment impressed everyone. (Her polite and graceful behaviour was notable.)
Synonyms
- Women: adult female humans (neutral term).
- Gentlewomen: women of good birth or breeding (archaic).
- Females: a biological term (less formal in social contexts).
Related Idioms
- "Ladies first": a polite phrase indicating that women should go before men in certain situations.
- He held the door and said, "Ladies first." (He allowed women to enter before him.)
- "Ladies' night": an event where women receive special treatment or discounts.
- The club has a ladies' night every Thursday with free drinks for women. (A promotional evening for female patrons.)