Cinderella

UK: /ˌsɪndəˈrɛlə/ US: (sin′də rel′ə)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Cin•der•el•la  (sin′də rel′ə), n. 

1. a heroine of a fairy tale or folk tale who is maltreated by a malevolent stepmother but achieves happiness and marries a prince through the benevolent intervention of a fairy godmother.
2. (italics) the tale itself, the earliest version of which is in Chinese and dates from the 9th century a.d.
3. Dance, Music and Dance (italics) a ballet (1945) with musical score by Sergei Prokofiev.
4. a person or thing of merit, undeservedly neglected or forced into a wretched or obscure existence.
5. a person who achieves unexpected or sudden success or recognition, esp. after obscurity, neglect, or misery.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Cinderella / ˌsɪndəˈrɛlə/ noun

1. a woman who achieves fame after being obscure
2. a poor, neglected, or unsuccessful person or thing

Etymology: 19th Century: after Cinderella, the heroine of a fairy tale who is aided by a fairy godmother