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ladies

n.
US //ˈɫeɪdiz// UK //lˈeɪdɪz// ladies
  1. 1 plural of lady (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    more than one woman, usually used as a polite or formal way to talk about them.

    the plural form of lady; used to refer to women collectively, often with a connotation of courtesy or social standing.

    Example

    The two ladies sat in the park and talked for hours.

    Example

    Several ladies from the local historical society volunteered to lead the guided tours through the manor house during the summer festival.
  2. 2 polite address (n.)
    A2 Elementary Formal

    a polite way to address a group of women.

    a vocative used to address a group of women politely, often paired with 'gentlemen' in formal contexts.

    Example

    Good evening, ladies, may I take your coats?

    Example

    The host began his speech by welcoming the ladies and gentlemen to the annual charity gala.

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  1. 3 women's toilet (n.)
    B1 Intermediate British English

    a public bathroom for women.

    a euphemistic term for a public lavatory intended for female use.

    Example

    She went to the ladies to wash her hands before dinner.

    Example

    The restaurant manager apologised for the queue outside the ladies, explaining that one of the sinks was currently out of order.

    Usage

    Usually preceded by 'the'.
  2. 4 poker hand (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal

    a pair of queens in a game of cards.

    a starting hand consisting of two queens. The term is informal and specific to card games.

    Example

    He felt confident when he saw he had been dealt the ladies.

    Example

    Holding the ladies, she decided to raise the bet significantly before the flop was even revealed.
    • pair of queens
  3. 5 sports team (n.)
    B1 Intermediate British English Sport

    a women's sports team.

    a clipping of 'ladies' team', frequently used in the formal titles of sports clubs.

    Example

    The local ladies' football team won the championship last night.

    Example

    The club announced a significant increase in funding for the ladies' side to ensure they could compete at the national level.

    Teacher's tip

    While common in club names, modern professional sports are increasingly moving toward using 'Women' instead of 'Ladies'.
    • women's team
Origin

As a lavatory for women, via misspelling of ladies'. Compare gents.

Idioms1 entry

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