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Definition of nee

nee

/neɪ/
nee
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nee Lexical Profile

nee Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Originally named or born with the specified surname, used after a married woman's current name to introduce her maiden family name, or by extension to indicate the former name of an organization or entity.

Example

"The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Eleanor Vance, nee Sterling, a pioneering researcher in marine biology."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for nee

Word Nuance & Usage

Because 'née' is the feminine past participle in French, it is traditionally placed directly after a married woman's current surname and before her maiden surname; for a man's surname at birth, the masculine form 'né' is sometimes used in formal writing.

• Rhymes for nee

• Nearby Words

nectar
nectarine
nectocalyx
nee
need
needful
needily

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the mid-18th century from French 'née', the feminine past participle of 'naître' (to be born), from Latin 'natus', past participle of 'nasci' (to be born).

Cite this Entry

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