debutante
debutante Lexical Profile
debutante Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An upper-class young woman making her first formal appearance in fashionable society, typically at a traditional ball or cotillion.
"She spent months preparing for the charity ball where she would be presented as a debutante."
A female performer, athlete, or artist making her first public appearance in a professional field.
"The young soprano captivated the audience as an operatic debutante at the royal theater."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'debutant' (without the final 'e') can refer to a newcomer of any gender, 'debutante' is strictly used for a young woman making her formal entrance into high society.
• Rhymes for debutante
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 19th century from French débutante, the feminine present participle of débuter ('to make one's first appearance' or originally 'to lead off in a game'), from début ('first stroke').