madame
Americannoun
plural
mesdames-
a French title of respect equivalent to “Mrs.”, used alone or prefixed to a woman's married name or title.
Madame Curie.
-
(in English) a title of respect used in speaking to or of an older woman, especially one of distinction, who is not of American or British origin. Mme.
noun
-
a married Frenchwoman: usually used as a title equivalent to Mrs, and sometimes extended to older unmarried women to show respect and to women of other nationalities
Etymology
Origin of madame
From French, dating back to 1590–1600; madam
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.
To mix it up, served with a fried egg on top and - voila - you have a croque madame.
From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025
The menu features an eclectic mix of luxurious-feeling dishes: a croissant madame with kimchi, French onion soup with duck stock, a smoked cod and chili oil-topped bagel.
From Seattle Times • May 13, 2023
To illustrate the pride of the French housewife dedicated to cleanliness, Sempé drew madame polishing the tracks of a railroad line that ran just outside her front gate.
From New York Times • Aug. 11, 2022
And so, I filmed the making of a croque madame — delicious, cheesy, and with a bright, wiggly egg on top, I figured it was bound to go viral.
From Salon • Nov. 2, 2021
“I accept your offer, madame, if the agreed terms are honored.”
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.