The term is also used in titles such as first lady and lady mayoress, the wives of elected or appointed officials. In some contexts 'lady' is synonymous with the old-fashioned word ' gentlewoman', meaning someone of high social status by birth and upbringing, but not necessarily titled. This meaning is retained in the southern states of the United States.

The primary meaning of 'mistress of a household' is now mostly obsolete, save for the term ' landlady' and in set phrases such as 'the lady of the house'. John William Waterhouse's The Lady of Shalott, 1888 ( Tate Gallery, London, England) The second part is usually taken to be from the root dig-, 'to knead', seen also in dough the sense development from bread-kneader, or bread-maker, or bread-shaper, to the ordinary meaning, though not clearly to be traced historically, may be illustrated by that of 'lord'.

The word comes from Old English hlǣfdige the first part of the word is a mutated form of hlāf, 'loaf, bread', also seen in the corresponding hlāford, 'lord'. 'Lady' is used before the family name of a woman with a title of nobility or honorary title suo jure (in her own right), or the wife of a lord, a baronet, Scottish feudal baron, laird, or a knight, and also before the first name of the daughter of a duke, marquess, or earl. 'Lady' is also a formal title in the United Kingdom. Informal use is sometimes euphemistic ('lady of the night' for prostitute) or, in American slang, condescending in direct address (equivalent to 'mister' or 'man'). Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the equivalent of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. The word lady is a term for a girl or woman, with various connotations.

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