Basic Details
Word: Baroness
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A woman who holds the rank of baron, or the wife of a baron.
Synonyms: noblewoman
How to Spell Baroness
Syllables: bar - o - ness
Tricky part: Baron has one r and one n, and ess with a double s is added to it. Students often double the r or the n.
Watch out for: barroness, baronness, barones
Memory tip: Baron + ess, the same step as lion + ess = lioness: one n from the base word, then a double s.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The baroness opened her castle gardens to the public every summer.
Example 2: In the novel, the baroness hides a secret map inside her piano.
Example 3: Margaret Thatcher became a baroness after she stepped down as prime minister.
Fun Fact
In the British House of Lords, many women members sit with the title Baroness, which is often given for long public service.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Only one of these root words takes the suffix ess to make a real word. Choose it.
a) baron
b) king
c) uncle
d) knight
Show answer
a) baron. Baron + ess makes baroness; king, knight and uncle have separate feminine words: queen, dame and aunt.
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. baronness 2. heiress 3. countess 4. empress
a) a woman holding the rank of baron
b) the wife of a count or earl
c) a woman who rules an empire
d) a woman who will inherit great wealth
Show answer
a) a woman holding the rank of baron. Baronness has one n too many; baron keeps its single n before ess.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The senobras welcomed the guests in the great hall of the castle.
a) baroness
b) reasons
c) barons
d) baronets
Show answer
a) baroness. Eight letters with a b and two s's: barons is too short, reasons lacks the b and baronets brings in a t, which leaves baroness.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which title is the male form of baroness?
a) baron
b) bachelor
c) barber
d) barrister
Show answer
a) baron
2. Which word sounds a little like baroness but means unable to produce crops?
a) bargain
b) barren
c) barrel
d) baron
Show answer
b) barren
