# Joan

/ˈdʒoʊn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/joan
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. female name

noun · CEFR A1

a common female given name.

For teachers: a female given name, derived from the Old French Johanne, corresponding to the masculine John.

- Joan of Arc is a famous historical figure from France.
- The biography of Joan Didion explores her significant impact on American literature and journalism during the twentieth century.

### 2. a placeholder name

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Informal

an old-fashioned way to refer to any ordinary woman.

For teachers: a generic or placeholder name for a woman, often implying a lower social class.

- In the old story, every Jack had his Joan.
- The ballad uses the name Joan as a conventional archetype for a rustic young woman of the period.

Usage: Often paired with 'Jack' in the proverbial phrase 'every Jack has his Joan'.

### 3. a type of cap

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Technical

a tight-fitting hat worn by women in the 1700s.

For teachers: a close-fitting cap for women that was fashionable during the mid-18th century.

- The woman in the 18th-century painting wore a simple white joan.
- Fashion historians note that the joan was a staple of mid-1700s female attire, typically made of linen or lace.

## Examples

- Joan is coming over for dinner tonight.
- The office manager, Joan, handles all the scheduling and payroll for the local branch.
- While Joan remains a classic name in historical literature, its popularity as a contemporary choice for newborns has fluctuated significantly over the last century.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.