Maid of Honor: Definition, Role & Key Duties

Meaning 1：Chief bridesmaid (maid of honor)

maid of honor 🔊

/ˌmeɪd əv ˈɑː.nɚ/

The bride's most important female assistant and close friend at a wedding, often a sister or best friend, who helps with many tasks.

Maid of honor helping bride adjust veil before wedding ceremony

Chief bridesmaid 🔊

➕

/tʃiːf ˈbreɪdz.meɪd/

The most important female attendant of the bride at a wedding, usually a close friend or relative, who assists with preparations and stands beside the bride during the ceremony.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

'Maid' (Old English 'mægden') + 'of honor' = 'honored female assistant'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think: 'Maid' helps with the 'honor' of the day - she's the bride's right hand.

📖 Example

At the wedding, Sarah, the maid of honor, carefully adjusted the bride's veil before she walked down the aisle. 🔊 At the wedding, Sarah, the maid of honor, carefully adjusted the bride's veil before she walked down the aisle.

🔗 Collocations

choose the maid of honor – Select the bride's chief female attendant

maid of honor duties – Responsibilities of the chief bridesmaid

serve as maid of honor – Act as the bride's primary female assistant

🔄 Synonyms

chief bridesmaid (n.) – The main female attendant of the bride.

matron of honor (n.) – A married female attendant of the bride, equivalent to maid of honor for married women.

bridesmaid (n.) – A female attendant of the bride, usually one of several.

🚫 Antonyms

best man (n.) – The chief male attendant of the groom.

📖 Cultural Story

Originating in medieval courts, a maid of honor was an unmarried noblewoman aiding the bride. Today, it's typically a close friend or sister.