arbitress

American  

[ahr-bi-tris] / ˈɑr bɪ trɪs /

noun

1. a woman who is an arbiter.

---

arbitress British  

/ ˈɑːbɪtrɪs /

noun

1. a female arbitrator

---

Usage

What does arbitress mean? Arbitress is a word for a woman who is an arbitrator—an independent, impartial third party that works to settle a dispute between two opposing sides, often by making a decision that they both agree to. This process is called arbitration. To act as an arbitrator is to arbitrate. These terms are especially used in the context of negotiations between businesses and labor unions as well as in international disputes. Many once widely-used gender-specific terms that identify a particular professional person as a woman (such as stewardess) are now much less commonly used. The word arbitress is particularly rare. It’s possible that a woman may use the term arbitress to identify her position or profession, but this is not common. Using the word to refer to a woman who is an arbitrator is likely to be seen as offensive due to implying that her gender is somehow relevant to her role.

Gender

What's the difference between arbitress and arbiter? See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of arbitress

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French arbitresse, equivalent to arbitre arbit(e)r + -esse -ess

Example Sentences

From the first moment that you have beheld her, she has seemed the mistress of your destiny, the arbitress of your will.

From The Wanderer (Volume 1 of 5) or, Female Difficulties by Burney, Fanny

She,—who had been the arbitress of the fates of nations, whose commands none dared dispute or disobey, and at whose frown numberless sycophants and dependents trembled,—was now about to face the dread enemy of mankind!

From Secret History of the Court of England, from the Accession of George the Third to the Death of George the Fourth, Volume I (of 2) Including, Among Other Important Matters, Full Particulars of the Mysterious Death of the Princess Charlotte by Hamilton, Lady Anne

Not the great Ottoman, or greater Czar, Not Europe's arbitress of peace and war.

From The Poetical Works of Edward Young, Volume 2 by Young, Edward

Faëry elves, Whose midnight revels, by a forest side Or fountain, some belated peasant sees, Or dreams he sees, while overhead the moon Sits arbitress.

From The Zankiwank and The Bletherwitch An Original Fantastic Fairy Extravaganza by Fitzgerald, S. J. Adair

I had no answer to offer but that I had made her the arbitress of my fate, and she was welcome to do with me as was her sovereign will.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 57, No. 357, June, 1845 by Various