noun

Cinderella

sihn-duh-REH-luh

noun

A person or thing that unexpectedly rises from obscurity to success.

"The small college basketball team became the Cinderella story of the tournament."

"His rags-to-riches career made him a real Cinderella of the tech world."

Something that is overlooked or under-resourced compared to more favored things of its kind.

"Mental health has long been the Cinderella service of the healthcare system."

How to Use Cinderella

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsed for an unlikely underdog who suddenly succeeds, or for something that gets ignored and underfunded compared to others like it.

Common mistake

When capitalized and referring to the fairy-tale character, it is a proper noun; the lowercase figurative senses ("a cinderella story") are also common in journalism.

Common pairings

Cinderella story Cinderella team Cinderella service

Word Forms

Cinderellas plural, Cinderellas plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “Cinderella” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The small college basketball team became the _____ story of the tournament.

Etymology

From the classic fairy tale about a mistreated girl who is transformed and eventually marries a prince — the name blends "cinder" (ash, from her household chores) with a French-style diminutive ending.

Rhymes for Cinderella

Ella hella Bella Della Fella Stella paella Capella Estella Louella Nutella Cruella

See all rhymes for Cinderella →