maid of honor
MediumFormal / Semi-formal
Definition
Meaning
An unmarried woman who is the chief attendant to a bride at a wedding.
An honorary title for a young woman, often a close friend or relative, who supports the bride in the lead-up to and during the wedding ceremony. In a broader, archaic sense, it could refer to an unmarried woman attending a queen or princess.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term inherently refers to an unmarried woman. For a married or older woman fulfilling the same role, the term 'matron of honour' is used in American English and typically 'chief bridesmaid' in British English. The plural is 'maids of honour'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'maid of honour' (UK) vs. 'maid of honor' (US). The role is essentially the same, though American wedding culture often gives the maid of honor more defined responsibilities (e.g., planning the bridal shower, bachelorette party).
Connotations
In both variants, it connotes a position of trust, friendship, and responsibility. The UK spelling aligns with other '-our' words (honour, colour, favour).
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects within the context of weddings.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] asked/chose/appointed [Person] as her maid of honour.[Person] served/was the maid of honour at [Possessive] wedding.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used in standard business contexts.
Academic
Rare, potentially in historical or sociological studies of marriage rituals.
Everyday
Common in conversations about weddings, relationships, and social events.
Technical
Used in the wedding/event planning industry.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- She gave a heartfelt maid-of-honour speech.
- The maid-of-honour duties kept her busy.
American English
- Her maid-of-honor responsibilities were extensive.
- They discussed the maid-of-honor dress.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My sister was the maid of honour.
- The bride asked her best friend to be her maid of honour.
- As maid of honour, she organised the hen party and helped with the wedding preparations.
- The maid of honour delivered a witty and touching toast that had everyone in tears.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'MAID' (unmarried woman) who does the bride the greatest 'HONOUR' by standing beside her.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SUPPORT PILLAR (providing emotional and practical support); A SECOND-IN-COMMAND (in the context of the wedding).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation like 'горничная чести' – this is nonsensical. The correct equivalent is 'подруга невесты' (friend of the bride) or 'свидетельница' (female witness). 'Фрейлина' is for royalty, not modern weddings.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'maid of honour' with 'matron of honour'. Using 'of' incorrectly (e.g., 'maid honour'). Forgetting the hyphens when used as a compound modifier: 'the maid-of-honour speech'.
Practice
Quiz
Which term would be used for a married woman in the equivalent role in a US wedding?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The maid of honour is the chief or lead attendant, with additional responsibilities, while bridesmaids are the other female attendants in the bridal party.
No, by definition, a 'maid' is female. A man in an equivalent supportive role for the bride is often called a 'man of honour', 'bridesman', or 'honour attendant'.
Both are correct depending on the dialect. 'Maid of honor' is American English, and 'maid of honour' is British English.
Duties often include helping the bride plan, organising pre-wedding events (like the bridal shower or hen party), holding the bride's bouquet during the ceremony, signing the marriage certificate as a witness, and giving a speech at the reception.