Synonyms

doyenne

American

[doi-en, dwa-yen] / dɔɪˈɛn, dwaˈyɛn /

noun

plural

doyennes

a woman who is the senior member, as in age or rank, of a group, class, profession, etc.

Gender

See -enne.

Etymology

Origin of doyenne

1900–05; < French, feminine of doyen doyen

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Many of them were barely in school when the doyenne of Paris fashion took over menswear at Hermes in 1988 with instructions from then company boss Jean-Louis Dumas to run it "like your small company".

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

Surely some people will recoil at my likening Meghan’s efforts to those of Queen Martha, doyenne of gracious living and doing everything yourself.

From Salon • Aug. 27, 2025

In the new, ’60s-set comedy series, Martin plays Robert Diaz, a Korean War veteran who works as the eagle-eyed employee of the show’s exclusive country club and the caretaker of Burnett’s high-society doyenne, Norma Dellacorte.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2024

Dubbed "the doyenne of dinosaur discovery," Lowery has found hundreds of bones and more than 100 dinosaur footprints.

From Science Daily • Nov. 16, 2023

But Princess Ardácheff, as the doyenne of the party, prudently put her foot down, and insisted upon bed.

From His Hour by Glyn, Elinor

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023