doyenne

noun

doy·​enne dȯi-ˈ(y)en How to pronounce doyenne (audio) dwä-ˈyen How to pronounce doyenne (audio)
Synonyms of doyennenext
: a woman who is a doyen

Examples of doyenne in a Sentence

the doyenne of the fashion industry
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Before the work-at-home period of the pandemic, Branswell and Begley sat next to each other in the Boston newsroom, the doyennes of STAT, and of science journalism. — Andrew Joseph, STAT, 13 Oct. 2026 Annette Green, a doyenne of the beauty world who built the Fragrance Foundation into an industry force, has died. — Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026 More recently, Jacobs has donned long, clickety-clackety acrylic nails, a true fashion doyenne, and now favors his growing collection of tweed jackets. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 18 Aug. 2026 The domestic doyenne has made headlines over the years, earning notoriety from her recipes, her legal battles, her unapologetic candor, her Instagram account and of course, her epic cover for Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue in 2023. — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for doyenne

Word History

Etymology

French, feminine of doyen

First Known Use

circa 1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of doyenne was circa 1897

Rhymes for doyenne

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Browse Nearby Words

doyen
doyenne
Doyle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Doyenne.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doyenne. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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