noun
actress
AK-trihs
noun
1
A woman who performs roles in plays, films, or television shows.
"The actress won an award for her performance in the drama."
How to Use Actress
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA female performer in film, television, or theater.
When to use it
Some publications now prefer the gender-neutral "actor" for all performers, reserving "actress" mainly for award categories.
Common pairings
award-winning actress
lead actress
veteran actress
Word Forms
actresses plural
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The _____ won an award for her performance in the drama.
Etymology
From actor plus the feminine suffix -ess.