bridesmaid

noun

brides·​maid ˈbrīdz-ˌmād How to pronounce bridesmaid (audio)
1
: a woman who is an attendant of a bride
2
: one that finishes just behind the winner

Examples of bridesmaid in a Sentence

I was a bridesmaid in my sister's wedding.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Swift and Kelce did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen during the ceremony, according to a statement shared with People. — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Though Swift didn’t have bridesmaids and Kelce didn’t have groomsmen, her brother Austin Swift was Taylor Swift’s man of honor and Jason Kelce was Travis Kelce’s best man. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 As for the colorful accents by their side, the couple’s 12 bridesmaids all wore dresses in shades of green. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026 Only his father’s respectability, and perhaps his odd Motown accent, spared him from getting cussed out by bridesmaids at society weddings as a wastrel and drunkard, a shameless woman-wrapper. — Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bridesmaid

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bridesmaid was in 1657

Rhymes for bridesmaid

See All Rhymes for bridesmaid

Browse Nearby Words

bride service
bridesmaid
bridesman
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bridesmaid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bridesmaid. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bridesmaid

noun
brides·​maid ˈbrīdz-ˌmād How to pronounce bridesmaid (audio)
: a woman who attends a bride at her wedding

More from Merriam-Webster on bridesmaid

Nglish: Translation of bridesmaid for Spanish Speakers

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