dowager

UK: /ˈdaʊədʒə^r/ US: /ˈdaʊədʒɚ/ ,(dou′ə jər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dow•a•ger /ˈdaʊədʒɚ/   n. [countable]

1. a woman who holds some title or property from her deceased husband.
2. an elderly woman of stately dignity.

adj. [before a noun]

3. relating to or characteristic of a dowager:
   a dowager princess.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dow•a•ger  (dou′ə jər), n. 

1. a woman who holds some title or property from her deceased husband, esp. the widow of a king, duke, etc. (often used as an additional title to differentiate her from the wife of the present king, duke, etc.):
   a queen dowager; an empress dowager.
2. an elderly woman of stately dignity, esp. one of elevated social position:
   a wealthy dowager.

adj. 

3. noting, pertaining to, or characteristic of a dowager:
   the dowager duchess; to prefer a dowager style of dress.

• Middle French douag(i)ere, equivalent. to douage dower (see endow, -age) + -iere, feminine of -ier -ier²
• 1520–30

dow′a•ger•ism, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dowager / ˈdaʊədʒə/ noun

1. a widow possessing property or a title obtained from her husband
2. (as modifier): the dowager duchess
3. a wealthy or dignified elderly woman

Etymology: 16th Century: from Old French douagiere, from douage dower