mademoiselle

[ mad-uh-muh-zel, mad-mwuh-, mam-zel; French mad-mwa-zel ]

noun

, plural mad·e·moi·selles [mad-, uh, -m, uh, -, zelz, mad-mw, uh, -, mam-, zelz], mes·de·moi·selles [mey-d, uh, -m, uh, -, zel, meyd-mw, uh, -, zel, meyd-mw, a, -, zel].

1. (often initial capital letter) a French title of respect equivalent to “Miss”, used in speaking to or of a girl or unmarried woman: : Mlle.

   Mademoiselle Lafitte.

2. a French governess.
3. silver perch ( def 1 ).

mademoiselle

/ ˌmædmwəˈzɛl; madmwazɛl /

noun

1. a young unmarried French girl or woman: usually used as a title equivalent to Miss
2. a French teacher or governess

Word History and Origins

Origin of mademoiselle¹

1635–45; < French; Old French ma damoisele my noble young lady; madame, damsel

Word History and Origins

Origin of mademoiselle¹

C15: French, from ma my + demoiselle damsel

Example Sentences

The praise she got in magazines such as Vanity Fair and Mademoiselle never equaled the attacks that came her way.

From The Daily Beast

The former editor of French Vogue is the subject of a documentary, ‘Mademoiselle C,’ about the making of her new magazine.

From The Daily Beast

A new documentary about her, Mademoiselle C, opens Wednesday.

From The Daily Beast

Mademoiselle C, the highly anticipated documentary about Carine Roitfeld, hits theaters on September 11.

From The Daily Beast

Then we came back to New York and I got a job working at Mademoiselle.

From The Daily Beast

"The authority of Mademoiselle de La Vauvraye," was the unanswerable rejoinder.

From Project Gutenberg

For two consecutive seasons he lived in the sunlight of Mademoiselle Duvigne's presence.

From Project Gutenberg

I introduced him into the salon, and Mademoiselle, after conversing a little while with Madame, consented to receive him.

From Project Gutenberg

He turned and hurried away to one of the far cottages, where Mademoiselle Reisz was shuffling away.

From Project Gutenberg

Of course Edna would like to hear Mademoiselle Reisz play; but she feared it would be useless to entreat her.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adolescent
• teenager
• young lady
• young woman