English Meaning & Definitions
A woman whose husband has died and who is noted for her cheerful disposition, wealth, or active social life.
- “In the small town, the wealthy and vibrant socialite was affectionately known as the merry widow.”
- “She played the role of the merry widow with incredible charm and wit.”
A woman's close-fitting, waist-cinching undergarment or bustier, typically featuring garters and light boning.
- “She wore a vintage lace merry widow beneath her wedding gown for an accentuated silhouette.”
- “The lingerie boutique featured an exquisite display of satin merry widows.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “merry widow”.
Derived from Franz Lehár's immensely popular 1905 operetta 'The Merry Widow' (Die lustige Witwe), the term originally referred to a wealthy widow whose fortune made her an attractive marriage prospect. By the mid-20th century, the name was adopted for a type of women's foundation garment—specifically a heavily boned, waist-nipping bustier or corslet—because it was famously advertised to give the wearer a seductive, hourglass silhouette reminiscent of the glamorous heroines of stage and screen.
Think of a woman who is both 'merry' (cheerful, glamorous) and a 'widow' wearing a dramatic, waist-cinching corset under her black mourning dress.
Frequently Asked Questions About “merry widow”
1. What is the meaning of “merry widow” in English?
In English, merry widow (noun) is defined as: “A woman whose husband has died and who is noted for her cheerful disposition, wealth, or active social life.”.
2. How do you use “merry widow” in a sentence?
“In the small town, the wealthy and vibrant socialite was affectionately known as the merry widow.”
3. What are English synonyms of “merry widow”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “merry widow”?
Derived from Franz Lehár's immensely popular 1905 operetta 'The Merry Widow' (Die lustige Witwe), the term originally referred to a wealthy widow whose fortune made her an attractive marriage prospect. By the mid-20th century, the name was adopted for a type of women's foundation garment—specifically a heavily boned, waist-nipping bustier or corslet—because it was famously advertised to give the wearer a seductive, hourglass silhouette reminiscent of the glamorous heroines of stage and screen.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.