millionairess: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequency, declining.Formal, dated, potentially sexist or archaic.
Quick answer
What does “millionairess” mean?
A woman who possesses wealth amounting to at least a million pounds, dollars, or units of another currency.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A woman who possesses wealth amounting to at least a million pounds, dollars, or units of another currency.
A wealthy woman, especially one whose wealth is inherited or self-made; often implies a lifestyle associated with great wealth. The term can carry connotations of social status, luxury, and sometimes idleness or privilege.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is recognized and understood in both varieties, but is equally dated in both. The movement away from gendered occupational titles is slightly more advanced in American English.
Connotations
Both varieties perceive it as old-fashioned. May evoke images of early 20th-century high society or specific cultural archetypes (e.g., a 'dowager').
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary corpora for both. 'Millionaire' is the overwhelmingly preferred term.
Grammar
How to Use “millionairess” in a Sentence
[the/our/a] millionairessmillionairess + of + [industry/business]millionairess + from + [place/background]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Historical contexts discussing female entrepreneurs or inheritors of wealth.
Academic
Rare. Used in historical, sociological, or gender studies texts analyzing gendered language.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual speech. Would sound quaint or intentionally stylized.
Technical
Not used in technical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “millionairess”
- Using it in contemporary contexts where 'millionaire' is appropriate.
- Spelling error: 'millionaireness', 'millioneress'.
- Assuming it is the standard, polite term (it is not).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is grammatically correct and appears in dictionaries, but its usage is considered dated and often inappropriate in modern contexts due to its gendered nature.
'Millionaire' is the standard, gender-neutral term for a person whose wealth exceeds one million units of currency. 'Millionairess' is the specifically feminine form, now largely obsolete.
In historical fiction, when quoting older texts, or in a deliberate stylistic choice to evoke a bygone era. It should generally be avoided in contemporary reporting, formal writing, and neutral description.
Yes, many occupational nouns with the '-ess' suffix have followed a similar path: authoress, poetess, manageress, stewardess. The modern trend is to use the base form (author, poet, manager, flight attendant) for all genders.
A woman who possesses wealth amounting to at least a million pounds, dollars, or units of another currency.
Millionairess is usually formal, dated, potentially sexist or archaic. in register.
Millionairess: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɪljəˈneərəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmɪljəˈnerəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idioms for this word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a woman in a luxurious dress saying, "Yes, I am an heiress, but I prefer the title 'millionairess'." The '-ess' ending is the key feminine marker.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEALTH IS A CONTAINER (she 'holds' millions), WEALTH IS A TITLE (like 'princess').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate and modern term to use in a business article about a wealthy female CEO?