noun
- young women making their formal entrance into society, typically at a special ball or presentation
Usage: formal; traditional social custom
Examples
- The debutantes wore elegant white gowns to the cotillion ball.
- Twenty debutantes were presented to society at the annual charity event.
- The debutantes practiced their curtsies for weeks before the formal presentation.
- Local newspapers featured photographs of all the debutantes from the spring season.
- The debutantes’ families hosted elaborate parties to celebrate their daughters’ debuts.
- Many debutantes participate in volunteer work as part of their social season.