Definition

1. Noun:
   • A distinguished female operatic singer; a female operatic star: The term refers to the leading female singer in an opera company, typically performing the principal roles.
   • A vain and temperamental person: By extension, it describes a person, regardless of profession or gender, who is self-centered, demanding, and easily upset, often expecting special treatment.

Usage Examples

• As a leading opera singer:

  • The performance was a triumph for the prima donna, who received a ten-minute standing ovation.
  • She trained for years to become the prima donna of the national opera house.

• As a temperamental person:

  • He's a talented programmer, but he's such a prima donna about his workspace.
  • The director refused to work with the actress again, calling her a difficult prima donna.

Advanced Usage

• "Prima donna behavior/attitude": Acting in a self-important, demanding, or temperamental manner.
  • The team was frustrated by the manager's prima donna attitude during the project.
• "Prima donna complex": A personality trait characterized by excessive vanity and a need for admiration.
  • His prima donna complex makes collaboration very difficult.

Variants and Related Words

• Primo uomo (noun, historical): The male counterpart, referring to the leading male singer in 17th- and 18th-century opera, especially a castrato.
• Diva (noun): A closely related term, also meaning a celebrated female opera singer, or more generally, a famous and glamorous female performer who may behave in a demanding way.

Synonyms

• Opera star: For the musical definition.
• Diva: For both the operatic and temperamental meanings.
• Star: A more general term for a leading performer.
• Temperamental person: For the behavioral definition.
• Egotist: A person who is excessively self-centered.

Related Phrases

• To act like a prima donna: To behave in a vain, temperamental, or demanding way.
  • Ever since he won the award, he's started to act like a prima donna.
• Prima donna-ish (informal adjective): Exhibiting the qualities of a prima donna.
  • Her prima donna-ish demands delayed the entire production.

Related Idioms

• "No more prima donna antics": A command to stop behaving in a self-important or difficult manner.
  • The coach told the player, "No more prima donna antics; this is a team sport."

Noun

1. a distinguished female operatic singer; a female operatic star
2. a vain and temperamental person