duchess

1 of 2

noun (1)

duch·​ess ˈdə-chəs How to pronounce duchess (audio)
Synonyms of duchessnext
1
: the wife or widow of a duke
2
: a woman who holds the rank of duke in her own right

duchesse

2 of 2

noun (2)

du·​chesse
(ˈ)d(y)ü¦shes
plural -s
1
: a chaise longue with arms that was popular in 18th century France
2
or less commonly duchess : a fine lustrous rayon or silk satin for clothing
3
: a very small cream puff with sweet or savory filling used as dessert or served with cocktails

Examples of duchess 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.
Noun
Earlier in the day, the duchess used a post to wish her son Archie on his seventh birthday. — Alessia Arcolaci, Vanity Fair, 18 May 2026 There were portraits of Queen Mary and lots of pictures of the duchess and footmen in livery and that sort of thing. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 5 May 2026 While the duchess opted to personalize her version with cobalt blue letters on a navy body, shoppers can choose from three additional sizes and 14 additional colors — plus up to three letters — to craft their ideal bag. — Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 She was born on August 3, 1986, in Monaco, and got her name from her duchess great-grandmother, Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois. — Staff Author, InStyle, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for duchess

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English duchesse, from Anglo-French, from duc duke

Noun (2)

French, literally, duchess

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of duchess was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing duchess

Rhymes for duchess

See All Rhymes for duchess

Browse Nearby Words

Duchesnea
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Cite this Entry

“Duchess.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duchess. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

duchess

noun
duch·​ess ˈdəch-əs How to pronounce duchess (audio)
1
: the wife or widow of a duke
2
: a woman holding the rank of duke in her own right

More from Merriam-Webster on duchess

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for duchess

Nglish: Translation of duchess for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about duchess

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