mistress
a woman who, most often secretly, has an ongoing sexual relationship with, and sometimes is financially supported by, someone who is openly married to, engaged to, or living with another person: If Mr. G thinks his wife doesn’t know he has a mistress, he’s dead wrong—just ask Mrs. G’s private investigator!
Sometimes Mistress . the dominant sexual partner, when female, in a BDSM relationship of unequal power.
Mistress . a term of address in former use and corresponding to Mrs., Miss, or Ms.
British. a female schoolteacher; schoolmistress.
Sometimes Mistress . something regarded as feminine that has control or supremacy: Because each enjoyed an era of naval superiority, both Venice and Britain were once known as the Mistress of the Seas.
Older Use. a woman who has authority, control, or power, especially the female head of a household, institution, or other establishment: I’m sorry, the mistress of the house is not presently available.
Older Use. a woman employing, or in authority over, servants or attendants: The maid laid out two outfits every morning so that her mistress might choose the one that best suited her mood.
(especially in historical use) a female owner of enslaved people, in the institution of chattel slavery; a female slaveholder: Her father’s last will and testament made her mistress of his slaves after his death in 1837.
Older Use. a female owner of a pet or other animal: That horse can only be handled by his mistress and a few of the grooms.
Older Use. a woman who has the power of controlling or disposing of something at her own pleasure: mistress of a great fortune.
Obsolete. a woman who is skilled in something; a female master of an occupation or art: She and her sister are both mistresses of the harpsichord.
Archaic. sweetheart.
Origin of mistress
1usage note For mistress
Other words from mistress
- mis·tressed, adjective
- mis·tress-ship, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use mistress in a sentence
Corney obeyed: in some strange, lovely way she had got the mistressship of his conscience as well as his heart.
Weighed and Wanting | George MacDonaldI ought to go to college and take a degree if I ever want to get a head-mistressship.
Loyal to the School | Angela Brazil
British Dictionary definitions for mistress (1 of 2)
/ (ˈmɪstrɪs) /
a woman who has a continuing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
a woman in a position of authority, ownership, or control, such as the head of a household
a woman or female personification having control over something specified: she was mistress of her own destiny
mainly British short for schoolmistress
an archaic or dialect word for sweetheart
Origin of mistress
1British Dictionary definitions for Mistress (2 of 2)
/ (ˈmɪstrɪs) /
an archaic or dialect title equivalent to Mrs
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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