madam

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English · Informal

n. a girl or young woman who is bossy, rude, or thinks she is very important.

n. a colloquial and often pejorative term for a conceited, precocious, or quarrelsome young girl.

“She is being a little madam today and refuses to share her toys.”

“The teacher noted that while the student was bright, she could be quite a little madam when she didn't get her way during group activities.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Slang

n. a woman who is in charge of a house where people pay for sex.

n. a woman who manages a brothel and its workers.

“The police arrested the madam during a raid on the illegal club.”

“The documentary explored the life of a notorious madam who had operated several high-end establishments in the city for over two decades.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Dialect

n. a title used in Singapore for a married or older woman.

n. a polite title used in Singaporean English before a woman's name, often abbreviated as Mdm.

“Madam Tan has lived in this apartment building for forty years.”

“In official Singaporean documents, the woman was referred to as Madam Lee to acknowledge her status as a respected elder in the community.”

C2 · Proficiency Formal

v. to call someone madam when you speak to them.

v. to address a woman using the formal honorific 'madam'.

“The waiter continued to madam her even after she asked him to be more casual.”

“He found it necessary to madam the client throughout the negotiation to ensure he did not cause any unintended offense.”