dame
/deɪm/ (bre, ipa) · /deɪm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdām/ (ame, mw)
dame — noun
- damesingular
- damesplural
1. a prestigious British title that is awarded to a woman whose work has strongly b
a prestigious British title that is awarded to a woman whose work has strongly benefited society over many years; the title is placed before her first name, just as 'Sir' is placed before a man's name
Wren was awarded the title of Dame in 2022 for her work in improving schools.
title usage — Dame + given name
Defne was overjoyed when the palace announced she had been made a Dame.
be made a Dame (passive of appointment)
A local newspaper called Dame Sivan a true pioneer in the field of medical research.
Guests at the ceremony cheered loudly when Dame Manuela received her special honour.
- Lady
Also a title for women in the UK, but 'Lady' often comes from being the wife of a lord or a baronet, while 'Dame' is an honour earned through personal achievement.
- Baroness
A specific rank in the peerage; a Dame is not necessarily a peer, whereas a Baroness holds a hereditary or life peerage title.
- Sir
The male equivalent title, used before a man's given name.
文法句型
Dame + [given name]
be made a Dame
make someone a Dame
用法筆記
The title always comes before the woman's given name, not before her surname — for example, 'Dame Camille', not 'Dame Brown'. Frequently passive in expressions like 'be made a Dame' or 'be awarded the title of Dame'.
常見錯誤
2. a woman; an informal and slightly old-fashioned way of referring to a woman, esp
a woman; an informal and slightly old-fashioned way of referring to a woman, especially in American film noir or detective stories from the mid-1900s
The film noir character was a mysterious dame with a hidden past.
film noir context — dated use of 'dame' for a woman
"Who is that dame in the red dress?" asked the old soldier.
Chidi's grandfather still uses the word 'dame' when talking about women.
In the old novel, every dame at the party wore long satin gloves.
文法句型
a + adjective + dame
that dame
用法筆記
This sense is dated and can sound old-fashioned or slightly disrespectful if used in modern conversation. It survives mainly in period films, vintage crime fiction, and affectionate imitation of that style.
常見錯誤
3. a comic older-woman role in a traditional British stage show for children, perfo
a comic older-woman role in a traditional British stage show for children, performed during the Christmas season; the part is nearly always performed by a male actor in bright, over-the-top clothing and makeup
The pantomime dame wore a huge purple hat and told silly jokes.
Linh laughed when the dame pretended to bake a giant rubber cake on stage.
pantomime dame — slapstick comedy tradition
Every year, the local theatre hires a man to play the dame.
The children in the audience shouted warnings to the dame about the sneaky villain.
文法句型
the dame
play the dame
用法筆記
This sense is specific to British pantomime culture and is rarely understood outside the UK. The dame is always a comic figure — not a serious female role — and the part is traditionally played by a man in drag with exaggerated makeup.
常見錯誤
4. a woman of high social rank or noble birth; a woman who behaves with the grace a
a woman of high social rank or noble birth; a woman who behaves with the grace and dignity associated with a high social position — now largely used only in historical or literary contexts
In the old story, a noble dame lived in a castle by the sea.
archaic register — noble rank
The queen appointed a wise and loyal dame to manage the royal household.
An ancient poem describes a gentle dame who gave food to the village poor.
The historian wrote about a powerful dame who ruled the region in the fifteenth century.
- noblewoman
A clearer modern term for a woman of noble birth; avoids the ambiguity of 'dame'.
- lady
In historical contexts, 'lady' is the more common and less confusing term for a woman of rank.
- matriarch
Describes a woman who holds authority in a family or group, without the noble birth requirement.
文法句型
a + adjective + dame
用法筆記
This sense is archaic and appears almost exclusively in historical fiction, period dramas, or literary descriptions of medieval or Renaissance society. Avoid using it in modern writing — readers are likely to interpret it as the 'Dame' title (sense 1) or the informal 'woman' sense (sense 2).