noun

• 1The wife or widow of a marquess.

  ‘A month later the new marquis was without a marchioness; his wife Carolyn filed for divorce.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘When he learned of her deed, Audubon wrote to his wife that the marchioness had pasted the birds ‘on the walls of one of her Superb Rooms.’’
  • ‘They watched as the marquess and his new marchioness performed the extraordinary feat of holding their breath for some time.’
  • ‘Thanks to the major and minor arcana of good behaviour set out in the book, I am at no loss as to the correct order of precedence as to whether a marchioness or a viscount should be led into dinner first.’
  • ‘His travelling companions included Ian Fleming's widow, Anne, and the marchioness of Dufferin.’
  • ‘You did see the marchioness spill her drink on the countess.’
  • ‘The Science Show had two dedicated court reporters on call around the clock, 52 weeks a year (or 24/7 as it's now known), helicopters on standby and research teams analysing every royal nuance down to the lowliest marchioness.’
  • ‘Now let's see if they are ready for the new marchioness.’
  • ‘Will you tell anyone who asks that I felt ill and the marchioness accompanied me home?’
  • ‘The marchioness will be fine after a few days' rest.’
  • ‘But to his critics his fondness for the marchioness of Londonderry looked like social climbing and a desire for acceptance by the establishment.’
  • ‘It was a year ago this very day that the marchioness miscarried the babe.’
  • ‘It was not often that a marchioness of France underwent the extraordinary question.’

  1. 1.1A woman holding the rank of marquess in her own right.