Learn English – Difference between “lady” and “woman”

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Are there differences between "lady" and "woman" ?

Google say lady is a polite social woman. But we don't use them just as this. Do we? English isn't my native language so I am better clarifying myself.

Best Answer

"Lady" can be used to refer to someone of higher or lower social rank. When it's spelled with a capital letter, it is the title of a woman with the equivalent rank of a Lord, or a woman who is married to a Lord. As "just a word", though, it usually refers to somebody who is of a different social rank from yours. You would use the terms "cleaning lady" and "bag lady" just as much (and probably more in these less-formal times) as you would "lady of the house" and other sorts of "you are more important than me" phrases.

One needs to watch the use of "lady" these days. Because it has been as much a word that comes automatically with marriage as one that may be earned, it is sometimes felt as belittling, dismissive or condescending; something like calling Jane, who is married to John Smith, Mrs. John Smith. The word itself isn't a bad one, and can be used in very positive ways, but many of its uses—uses that once would have been the height of proper manners—are very much unwelcome these days.