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• mister
  mister

  noun

  Mister, a conventional title of respect for a man, prefixed to the name and to certain official designations (usually written as the abbreviationMr. ).
• Mister
  Mister

  noun

  the full form of Mr

mister

¹ American  

[mis-ter] / ˈmɪs tər /

noun

1. Mister, a conventional title of respect for a man, prefixed to the name and to certain official designations (usually written as the abbreviationMr. ).

2. Informal. sir (used in direct address and not followed by the name of the man addressed).

   Mister, is this your umbrella?

3. Mister, a title prefixed to a mock surname that is used to represent possession of a particular attribute, identity, etc..

   Mister Know-it-all.

4. the informal or social title used in addressing a military warrant officer or any naval officer below the rank of commander.

5. (especially in military schools and colleges)

   1. a term of respect used by cadets in addressing upperclassmen: used with surname.

   2. a term of disparagement used by upperclassmen in addressing cadets.

      Mister, tuck in that shirttail!

6. Older Use. husband.

   You and the mister staying long?

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verb (used with object)

1. to address or speak of as “mister” or “Mr.”

mister ² American  

[mis-ter] / ˈmɪs tər /

noun

1. a spray, nozzle, or similar device for misting plants.

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mister ¹ British  

/ ˈmɪstə /

noun

1. an informal form of address for a man

2. navy

   1. the official form of address for subordinate or senior warrant officers

   2. the official form of address for all officers in a merchant ship, other than the captain

   3. navy the official form of address used by the commanding officer to his officers, esp to the more junior

3. the form of address for a surgeon

4. the form of address for officials holding certain positions

   mister chairman

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verb

1. informal (tr) to call (someone) mister

Mister ² British  

/ ˈmɪstə /

noun

1. the full form of Mr

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Etymology

Origin of mister¹

First recorded in 1545–55; variant of master

Origin of mister²

First recorded in 1970–75; mist + -er ¹

Example Sentences

LGP, which first acquired Mister Car Wash in 2014, will now own the soon-to-be private company for a second time.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

Calvacca doesn’t play favorites, she says, but she snuggles Valentina and calls Sonny Mister Handsome.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 31, 2026

“The videos are in direct contradiction to the careful intentionality and adherence to core child development principles that Fred Rogers brought to every episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2025

"I love that you just jump right into it. You don't know who Mister Terrific is? Tough, you'll figure it out. This is a fully fleshed out world."

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2025

Then he borrowed another fifty dollars and Mister Singer went on the note with him.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers