What does bachelorette mean?
A bachelorette is an unmarried woman, especially a young one who has never married, serving as the feminine equivalent of the word 'bachelor.' The term emerged in American English during the mid-20th century and gained wide currency partly through television dating shows, which labeled their female contestants 'bachelorettes.' Today it appears most often in the phrase 'bachelorette party,' a celebration held for a woman shortly before her wedding — known in Britain as a hen night. The word generally carries a light, cheerful connotation, suggesting independence and fun rather than the stigma once attached to terms like 'spinster.' Though informal in tone, it is well established in everyday speech and media, and it remains a useful label for describing single women in both social and journalistic contexts.
An unmarried woman, especially a young one; the feminine counterpart of a bachelor.
"The magazine ran a profile of New York's most eligible bachelorettes."
Most natural when referring to younger unmarried women; for older women the neutral phrase 'unmarried woman' may be preferred.
A woman celebrating her forthcoming marriage, especially at a bachelorette party held with friends before the wedding.
"The bridesmaids planned a surprise bachelorette trip to Las Vegas."
Standard pluralization applies; the plural is common when referring to groups of unmarried women or party attendees collectively.
"The rooftop bar was filled with celebrating bachelorettes on Saturday night."
The word was popularized by a 1965 game show called 'The Dating Game,' which famously referred to its contestants as 'bachelorettes' — and it stuck.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bachelorette
Bachelorette is a modern American formation, coined as a feminine counterpart to 'bachelor' by adding the French-style suffix '-ette.' Its root traces back through Middle English 'bachelor' to Old French 'bacheler,' likely from medieval Latin 'baccalarius,' a term originally denoting a young knight in training or a junior member of a guild. Related descendants of that Latin source include 'baccalaureate,' the academic degree name. The word entered common usage around the mid-20th century and was reinforced by its use on American television dating programs.
How bachelorette is actually used
The term carries a playful, informal register and is largely confined to American and Canadian English, where it arose in the mid-20th century as a counterpart to 'bachelor.' Unlike 'spinster,' which historically carried negative connotations about older unmarried women, 'bachelorette' tends to sound lighthearted and even celebratory, particularly in the phrase 'bachelorette party.' In British English, 'hen' or 'hen night' is more common than 'bachelorette party'.
Easily confused with bachelorette
A bachelor is an unmarried man, while a bachelorette is its female counterpart, an unmarried woman.
'Spinster' is an older, often pejorative term for an unmarried woman, whereas 'bachelorette' is a newer, lighter term typically applied to younger unmarried women.