lady

Lady is a term used to refer to a woman, often with connotations of refinement, social status, or formal respect. In English, it also functions as a courtesy title or polite form of address in various contexts, ranging from everyday conversation to aristocratic and ceremonial settings.

The word has medieval origins and developed as a feminine counterpart to the male term lord. Over time it broadened beyond strictly hierarchical use to denote any woman in polite or respectful address, as well as a subset of roles within households, courts, and institutions. In many forms of formal address, phrases such as my lady or ladies and gentlemen reflect a longstanding etiquette tradition.

In modern usage, lady can function as a title in the British and other palaces’ and nobility systems, where it may be used for female peers or ladies of certain ranks, and as a courtesy title for women connected to noble families. It also appears in common phrases, including “ladies and gentlemen,” used to address mixed audiences, and in terms such as lady-in-waiting, ladylike, or ladylove, which carry specific social or historical nuances. Beyond people, the word appears in common names for plants or insects, such as the lady’s mantle or the ladybird, illustrating its broader cultural presence.

In contemporary language, the term can evoke both traditional politeness and gendered expectations, and its use may vary by context, culture, and personal preference. See also gentleness, dame, madam, and ladybird.