doyenne

noun

doy·​enne dȯi-ˈ(y)en How to pronounce doyenne (audio) dwä-ˈyen How to pronounce doyenne (audio)
Synonyms of doyennenext
: a woman who is a doyen

Examples of doyenne in a Sentence

the doyenne of the fashion industry
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.
Just call Jennifer Lopez the doyenne of double-sided tape! — Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026 For old-school glamour, doyennes and their daughters flock to fashion designer Dennis Basso. — Ashley Fetters Maloy, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2026 Here, well-coiffed doyennes and a younger set in algorithm-friendly fits graze on miniature Mont Blancs against wide park and river views in a neighborhood clearly in ascent. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 White as a Sunday glove, coconut is the doyenne of Southern layer cakes, a masterpiece of home cookery that has crowned dining room sideboards for more than a hundred years. — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for doyenne

Word History

Etymology

French, feminine of doyen

First Known Use

circa 1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of doyenne was circa 1897

Rhymes for doyenne

See All Rhymes for doyenne

Browse Nearby Words

doyen
doyenne
Doyle
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Cite this Entry

“Doyenne.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doyenne. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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