noun
lioness
LEYE-uh-nihs
Lioness (noun) means a female lion. Example: “The lioness led the hunt while the males rested.”
noun
1
A female lion.
"Residents on the south-western outskirts of Berlin are being urged to stay indoors after overnight sightings of a “loose, dangerous animal”, suspected to be an escaped lioness."
— Philip Oltermann, Lioness believed to be on loose in Berlin (2023)
"The lioness led the hunt while the males rested."
How to use lioness
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA female lion.
Common pairings
a fierce lioness
lioness and her cubs
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Word forms
- Plural
- lionesses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ led the hunt while the males rested.
Etymology
From Old French lionesse, formed from lion plus the feminine suffix -ess.
Rhymes for lioness
See all rhymes for lioness →Frequently asked questions
What does “lioness” mean?
The word “lioness” means a female lion. In plain terms, a female lion.
How do you pronounce “lioness”?
“Lioness” is pronounced LEYE-uh-nihs (/ˈlaɪ.ə.nɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “lioness” in a sentence?
Here is “lioness” used in a sentence: “The lioness led the hunt while the males rested.”
What part of speech is “lioness”?
“Lioness” is a noun.
Where does the word “lioness” come from?
The word “lioness” comes from Old French. From Old French lionesse, formed from lion plus the feminine suffix -ess.
