madam
/ˈmædəm/
noun
Core
1.n.a woman of refinement
“a chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady”
2.n.a woman who runs a house of prostitution
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madam and madame are homophones: they are pronounced identically and spelled differently, which is why they are so often swapped. madam means “a woman of refinement”. madame means “title used for a married Frenchwoman”.
/ˈmædəm/
1.n.a woman of refinement
“a chauffeur opened the door of the limousine for the grand lady”
2.n.a woman who runs a house of prostitution
/ˈmædəm/
| madam | madame | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈmædəm/ | /ˈmædəm/ |
| Said | MAD-uhm | MAD-uhm |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Letters | 5 | 6 |
| Parts of speech | noun | noun |
| Senses | 2 | 1 |
| How common | Core | Core |
| Synonyms | dame, ma'am, lady | none recorded |
Full entry for madam · Full entry for madame · More comparisons
1.n.title used for a married Frenchwoman