# madame

/ˈmædəm/ (US) · /mˈædəm/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. French title

noun · CEFR B1 · Formal

a polite title used for a French-speaking woman, similar to 'Mrs.' in English.

For teachers: a title of respect used for a French-speaking woman, equivalent to 'Mrs.' or 'Ms.'; it is often abbreviated as 'Mme'.

- Madame Dupont will be your French teacher for the next semester.
- The ambassador was introduced as Madame Lefebvre, a distinguished diplomat with years of experience in international relations.

Usage: Usually placed before a surname or used as a formal address on its own.

### 2. woman in charge of a brothel

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

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

For teachers: a woman who manages a brothel or a group of sex workers.

- In the old movie, the madame greeted the guests at the door.
- The police investigation focused on the madame who had been running the illegal establishment for over a decade.

Usage: In this sense, the word is often spelled 'madam' in English, but 'madame' is sometimes used to add a French or sophisticated connotation.

## Examples

- Madame, your table is ready now.
- The boutique owner, a sophisticated woman known simply as Madame, personally greeted every client who entered the shop.
- In the formal hierarchy of the 19th-century court, specific protocols dictated when a lady should be addressed as Madame rather than by her hereditary title.

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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.