first lady

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

ˈfirst ˈla•dy, n. [countable]

1. the wife of the president of the U.S. or of the governor of a state:
   [often: First Lady] The two First Ladies posed under flags of their states.
2. the foremost woman in any art, profession, or the like:
   the first lady of the women's movement.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

first′ la′dy, 

1. (often caps.) the wife of the president of the U.S. or of the governor of a state.
2. the wife of the head of any country:
   the first lady of Brazil.
3. the foremost woman in any art, profession, or the like:
   first lady of the American theater.
• 1850–55

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

first lady noun (often capitals)

1. (in the US) the wife or official hostess of a chief executive, esp of a state governor or a president
2. a woman considered to be at the top of her profession or art: the first lady of jazz