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Definition of doyenne

doyenne

/dɔɪˈɛn/
doy · enne
Plural:doyennes
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doyenne Lexical Profile

doyenne Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A woman who is the most respected, senior, or prominent person in a particular field or group.

Example

"After forty years of groundbreaking publications, she was widely celebrated as the doyenne of modern culinary journalism."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

"Doyenne" is specifically the feminine counterpart to "doyen" and is used exclusively to honor a woman who is the most respected, senior, or prominent authority in her field.

• Rhymes for doyenne

• Nearby Words

dowsing
dox
doxie
doyenne
doze
dozen
dozer

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 18th century from French doyenne, the feminine form of doyen ('dean'), which derives from Late Latin decanus ('chief of ten men'), from Latin decem ('ten').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Doyenne. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/doyenne
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