lady-in-waiting

noun

la·​dy-in-wait·​ing ˈlā-dē-in-ˈwā-tiŋ How to pronounce lady-in-waiting (audio)
plural ladies-in-waiting
: a lady of a queen's or a princess's household appointed to wait on her

Examples of lady-in-waiting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Katharine spent years languishing as a lady-in-waiting to a lady-in-waiting. Eva Wolchover, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025 Captured in the image is the late Queen Elizabeth and her lady-in-waiting, Lady Pamela Hicks, loyally by her side as the royal navigated her new role on the world stage. Simon Perry, People.com, 4 Oct. 2024 The Lady Grace Mysteries tells the story of Lady Grace Cavendish, an orphan raised to be a lady-in-waiting at the royal court of Queen Elizabeth I, who becomes the world’s first female teenage detective. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 Other fan-familiar characters include Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser (Jamie’s godfather and Brian’s cousin, played by Rory Alexander) and Mrs. Fitz (Ellen’s lady-in-waiting and Murtagh’s mother, played by Sally Messham). Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2025 But while many ladies-in-waiting suffered as their queens fell out of favor, Jane has the distinction of being the only one to lose her actual head. Eva Wolchover, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2025 Captured in the image is the late Queen Elizabeth and her lady-in-waiting, Lady Pamela Hicks, loyally by her side as the royal navigated her new role on the world stage. Simon Perry, People.com, 4 Oct. 2024 One fateful day, the queen’s carriage halted before him, leading to the purchase of a one-of-a-kind cameo bracelet adorned with rubies, gold flowers and leaves by one of her ladies-in-waiting. Thomas Waller, WWD, 16 Aug. 2024 The girls had to learn the lady-in-waiting movement, how to serve the food, how to serve tea. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lady-in-waiting was in 1703

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lady-in-waiting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lady-in-waiting. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

lady-in-waiting

noun
la·​dy-in-wait·​ing
ˌlād-ē-in-ˈwāt-iŋ
plural ladies-in-waiting
: a lady appointed to attend or wait on a queen or princess

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