noun
- a European woman living in colonial India, especially the wife of a British official
Usage: historical; sometimes considered offensive
Examples
- The memsahib supervised the household staff from the veranda.
- In colonial novels, the memsahib was often portrayed as struggling with the heat.
- The servants addressed her respectfully as memsahib.
- Many memsahibs found it difficult to adapt to life in India.
- The term memsahib reflected the social hierarchy of colonial times.
- She was known throughout the district as a kind memsahib.