actress

noun

ac·​tress ˈak-trəs How to pronounce actress (audio)
Synonyms of actressnext
: a woman or girl who is an actor
actressy
ˈak-trə-sē How to pronounce actress (audio)
adjective

Examples of actress 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.
In 1957, Sommer moved to London and became an au pair for the family of actress Vicki Michelle. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 29 Oct. 2026 And actress Sarah Pidgeon, who portrays Bessette Kennedy in Ryan Murphy’s series, is still channeling her style for red-carpet turns. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2026 The show won seven Olivier Awards earlier this year — including best new musical, best director for Luke Sheppard, best actor, best supporting actor and best supporting actress — equaling the record for the most wins by a musical. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026 Japanese actress Tao Okamoto was a joint winner of the festival’s Best Actress award, along with Virginie Efira, for their roles in Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s All Of A Sudden. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for actress

Word History

Etymology

actor + -ess

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of actress was in 1586

Rhymes for actress

See All Rhymes for actress

Browse Nearby Words

act psychology
actress
actressy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Actress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/actress. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

actress

noun
ac·​tress ˈak-trəs How to pronounce actress (audio)
: a woman or girl who acts especially in a play or movie or on television

More from Merriam-Webster on actress

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about actress

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