old maid

noun

Synonyms of old maidnext
1
: spinster sense 3
2
: a prim fussy person
he was a real old maid about burning rubbish— R. C. Ruark
3
: a simple card game in which cards are matched in pairs and the player holding the unmatched card at the end loses
old-maidish
ˈōl(d)-ˈmā-dish How to pronounce old maid (audio)
adjective
old-maidishness
ˈōl(d)-ˈmā-dish-nəs How to pronounce old maid (audio)
noun

Examples of old maid in a Sentence

In my generation, you were considered an old maid at 25.
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.
In contrast to the depictions of suffragists as dowdy old maids, the woman portrayed in this postcard is conventionally attractive and fashionably dressed. — Natalie Kinkade, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2024 As fans have known since Bridgerton’s first season finale, Whistledown is none other than Penelope Featherington—the clever wallflower (played with verve and empathy by Nicola Coughlan) who has languished long enough without nuptial prospects to be considered an old maid. — Judy Berman, TIME, 16 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of old maid was circa 1530

Dictionary Entries Near old maid

Old Low German

old maid

old-maid's-bonnet

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Old maid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old%20maid. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

old maid

noun
1
: an elderly unmarried woman
2
: a very neat fussy person
3
: a card game in which all but one of the cards are matched in pairs and the player holding the unmatched card at the end loses
old-maidish
ˈōl(d)-ˈmād-ish
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on old maid

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for old maid

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about old maid

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