noun
bridesmaid
BRYDZ-mayd
Bridesmaid (noun) means a woman who assists and accompanies the bride during a wedding. Example: “Her three bridesmaids all wore matching pale blue dresses.”
noun
1
A woman who assists and accompanies the bride during a wedding.
"Her three bridesmaids all wore matching pale blue dresses."
"She asked her best friend to be her chief bridesmaid."
2
Figuratively, a person or team that always comes close to winning but never actually wins.
"The team was dubbed the perennial bridesmaid after another runner-up finish."
How to use bridesmaid
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA woman who supports the bride at a wedding, or figuratively, someone who always finishes second.
Common pairings
chief bridesmaid
bridesmaid dress
always the bridesmaid
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Word forms
- Plural
- bridesmaids
- Third person singular
- bridesmaids
- Past tense
- bridesmaided
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her three _____ all wore matching pale blue dresses.
Etymology
A compound of bride and maid. The figurative "always second place" sense comes from the saying "always a bridesmaid, never a bride".
Synonyms
View more →
maid of honor
Rhymes for bridesmaid
See all rhymes for bridesmaid →Frequently asked questions
What does “bridesmaid” mean?
The word “bridesmaid” means a woman who assists and accompanies the bride during a wedding. In plain terms, a woman who supports the bride at a wedding, or figuratively, someone who always finishes second.
How do you pronounce “bridesmaid”?
“Bridesmaid” is pronounced BRYDZ-mayd (/ˈbɹaɪdzˌmeɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “bridesmaid” in a sentence?
Here is “bridesmaid” used in a sentence: “Her three bridesmaids all wore matching pale blue dresses.”
What part of speech is “bridesmaid”?
“Bridesmaid” is a noun.
How many meanings does “bridesmaid” have?
“Bridesmaid” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a woman who assists and accompanies the bride during a wedding.
