Definition of "madam" in English

noun

1. A polite form of address for a woman or lady.

   • Mrs Grey wondered if the outfit she was trying on made her look fat. The sales assistant just said, “It suits you, madam”.
   • Later, Mrs Grey was sitting in her favourite tea shop. “Would madam like the usual cream cakes and patisserie with her tea?” the waitress asked.

2. The mistress of a household.

3. (colloquial) A conceited or quarrelsome girl.

   • Selina kept pushing and shoving during musical chairs. The nursery school teacher said she was a bad-tempered little madam.

4. (slang) A woman who runs a brothel, particularly one that specializes in finding prostitutes for rich and important clients.

   • After she grew too old to work as a prostitute, she became a madam.

5. (India, derogatory slang) A hated or contemptuous woman; used as a general term of abuse

verb

1. (transitive) To address as "madam".

2. (ambitransitive, rare) To be a madam; to run (a brothel).