forelady: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, dated, occupational
Quick answer
What does “forelady” mean?
A woman who supervises and directs workers, especially in a factory, workshop, or jury.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A woman who supervises and directs workers, especially in a factory, workshop, or jury.
A female supervisor or overseer of a group of workers, traditionally in manufacturing, but the term can be extended to any group of workers where a female leads. In historical legal contexts, the term also refers to the elected female leader of a jury.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is extremely rare and equally dated in both varieties. 'Forewoman' is slightly more common as a formal legal term. Both terms have been superseded by 'foreperson' or 'supervisor' in modern occupational language.
Connotations
Evokes early-to-mid 20th century industrial settings. Its use today might be perceived as consciously old-fashioned or deliberately gendered.
Frequency
Very low frequency. More likely to be encountered in historical documents, literature, or period dramas than in contemporary speech or writing.
Grammar
How to Use “forelady” in a Sentence
the forelady of [the jury/the shift]forelady appointed by [management]forelady responsible for [quality control]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare in modern business contexts; replaced by 'team lead' or 'supervisor'.
Academic
Used only in historical, sociological, or gender studies discussing historical labour practices.
Everyday
Virtually never used in contemporary everyday conversation.
Technical
Might appear in historical legal transcripts or vintage industrial manuals.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “forelady”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “forelady”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forelady”
- Using it as a modern job title. *'I need to speak to the forelady of the IT department.' (Incorrect - use 'supervisor' or 'manager').
- Spelling as *'forlady' or *'fourlady'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered a dated term. Modern equivalents are gender-neutral like 'supervisor', 'team lead', or 'foreperson'.
They are essentially synonyms. 'Forelady' can sound slightly more informal or archaic. 'Forewoman' is the more standard term in formal legal contexts (e.g., jury forewoman).
Yes, historically it could refer to the woman elected to lead a jury and speak for them. Today, 'foreperson' or 'jury foreperson' is the preferred, gender-neutral term.
The word is dated because it reflects an era when supervisory roles were explicitly gendered and industrial hierarchies were more rigid. Modern workplace language prioritises gender-neutrality and broader terms like 'manager' or 'supervisor'.
A woman who supervises and directs workers, especially in a factory, workshop, or jury.
Forelady is usually formal, dated, occupational in register.
Forelady: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɔːˌleɪ.di/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɔrˌleɪ.di/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms. The term itself is literal.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LADY standing at the FOREfront, leading the workers.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIERARCHY IS VERTICAL (the forelady is above the workers).
Practice
Quiz
In which modern context is 'forelady' MOST likely to be used appropriately?