/ˌlæfiˈɛt, ˌlæfeɪ-, ˌlɑfi-, -feɪ-; for 1 also French lafaˈyɛt/Show Spelled[laf-ee-et, laf-ey-, lah-fee-, -fey-; for 1 also French la-fa-yet]Show IPA
noun
1.
Ma·rie Jo·seph Paul Yves Roch Gil·bert du Mo·tier /maˈri ʒɔˈzɛf pɔl iv rɔk ʒilˈbɛr dü mɔˈtyeɪ/Show Spelled[ma-ree zhaw-zef pawl eev rawk zheel-ber dy maw-tyey]Show IPA, Marquis de. Also, La Fayette, 1757–1834, French soldier, statesman, and liberal leader, who served in the American Revolutionary Army as aide-de-camp to General Washington, and took a leading part in the French revolutions of 1789 and 1830.
Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier (mari ʒozɛf pɔl iv rɔk ʒilbɛr dy mɔtje), Marquis de Lafayette. 1757--1834, French general and statesman. He fought on the side of the colonists in the War of American Independence and, as commander of the National Guard (1789--91; 1830), he played a leading part in the French Revolution and the revolution of 1830
2.
Marie-Madeleine (marimadlɛn), Comtesse de Lafayette. 1634--93, French novelist, noted for her historical romance La Princesse de Clèves (1678)