ladies
- 01 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.
Simple“The two ladies sat in the park and talked for hours.”
In context“Several ladies from the local historical society volunteered to lead the guided tours through the manor house during the summer festival.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
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.
Simple“Good evening, ladies, may I take your coats?”
In context“The host began his speech by welcoming the ladies and gentlemen to the annual charity gala.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
a public bathroom for women.
a euphemistic term for a public lavatory intended for female use.
Simple“She went to the ladies to wash her hands before dinner.”
In context“The restaurant manager apologised for the queue outside the ladies, explaining that one of the sinks was currently out of order.”
UsageUsually preceded by 'the'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“He felt confident when he saw he had been dealt the ladies.”
In context“Holding the ladies, she decided to raise the bet significantly before the flop was even revealed.”
Synonymspair of queens - 05 B1 Intermediate
a women's sports team.
a clipping of 'ladies' team', frequently used in the formal titles of sports clubs.
Simple“The local ladies' football team won the championship last night.”
In context“The club announced a significant increase in funding for the ladies' side to ensure they could compete at the national level.”
Teacher's tipWhile common in club names, modern professional sports are increasingly moving toward using 'Women' instead of 'Ladies'.
Synonymswomen's team
As a lavatory for women, via misspelling of ladies'. Compare gents.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.