woman - lady

You usually refer to an adult female person as a woman .

...a tall, dark-eyed woman in a simple brown dress.

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The plural of `woman' is women , not `womans' or `womens'.

There were men and women working in the fields.

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You can use lady as a polite way of referring to a woman, especially if the woman is present.

...a rich American lady.

There is a Japanese lady here, looking for someone who looks like you.

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Note that it is almost always better to refer to someone as an old lady or an elderly lady, rather than an `old woman'.

There's an old lady who lives in Cameron Road just round the corner and I go and help her.

...elderly ladies living on their own.

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If you are addressing a group of women, you call them ladies, not `women'.

Ladies, could I have your attention, please?

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.

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◊ used as modifiers

Woman and lady are sometimes used in front of other nouns.

...a woman politician.

...a lady novelist.

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You use women in front of plural nouns, not `woman'.

...women drivers.

...women candidates.

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However, you use lady in front of plural nouns, not `ladies'.

...lady traffic wardens.

The two most important lady guests were Karen Blixen and Edith Sitwell.

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◊ WARNING

Many women object to being referred to as `lady doctors', `lady teachers', etc. They prefer being referred to just as `doctors' or `teachers', but if it is necessary to indicate their sex, they usually prefer to be called women doctors, women teachers, and so on.

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◊ another use of 'lady'

In the past, a lady was a woman from the upper classes.

The lords and ladies are all gathered at the palace.

I rode in her carriage like a lady.

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Lady is now hardly ever used with this meaning.

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See also entries at ↑ female - feminine - effeminate; ↑ girl; and ↑ Male and female.

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