second lady: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, journalistic, political
Quick answer
What does “second lady” mean?
The wife of the vice president or deputy head of state.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The wife of the vice president or deputy head of state.
A female partner (spouse or unmarried partner) of the second-highest-ranking official in a government. Can also refer by analogy to the wife/partner of a deputy leader in other organizations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both varieties but is far more established in US political discourse due to the defined roles of the Vice President and their spouse. In the UK, a deputy prime minister's spouse is not commonly referred to by this title in mainstream media.
Connotations
US: Associated with a formal, supportive public role. UK: Less commonly used, can sound like a direct, perhaps awkward, borrowing from American political lexicon.
Frequency
High frequency in US political contexts; very low frequency in UK contexts. It is an Americanism adopted in other Anglophone political systems.
Grammar
How to Use “second lady” in a Sentence
The Second Lady + verb (e.g., attended, launched, advocated)Second Lady of + country (e.g., the United States)initiative by the Second LadyVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in political science, gender studies, and American studies texts discussing the roles of political spouses.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Used when discussing current US politics.
Technical
A term in political journalism and protocol.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “second lady”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “second lady”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “second lady”
- Using it for the female vice president herself (that is the 'Vice President' or 'Madam Vice President').
- Capitalizing incorrectly when not used as a title (e.g., 'She is a second lady.' vs. 'She is the Second Lady.').
- Overusing in non-American contexts where the title isn't established.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not an official, statutory title. It is a courtesy title and a media designation, much like 'First Lady'.
The analogous title is 'Second Gentleman'.
No, it is primarily an American political term. Other countries may borrow it in English-language media, but many have no equivalent common title.
No, that is incorrect. A female vice president is addressed as 'Madam Vice President'. 'Second Lady' specifically refers to the spouse/partner of the vice president.
The wife of the vice president or deputy head of state.
Second lady is usually formal, journalistic, political in register.
Second lady: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsek.ənd ˈleɪ.di/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsek.ənd ˈleɪ.di/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the order of precedence: FIRST Lady is married to the FIRST person (President), SECOND Lady is married to the SECOND person (Vice President).
Conceptual Metaphor
HIERARCHY IS A LIST (First, Second...)
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'Second Lady' most precisely and correctly used?