arbitress

American  

[ahr-bi-tris] / ˈɑr bɪ trɪs /

noun

1. a woman who is an arbiter.

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arbitress British  

/ ˈɑːbɪtrɪs /

noun

1. a female arbitrator

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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

In spite of his people, he resolved to make them great and glorious,—to make England, inclined to shrink into her narrow self, the arbitress of Europe, the tutelary angel of the human race.

From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 05 (of 12) by Burke, Edmund

"Aggie, my dear!" said her sister, who carried down the practice of reproof from the nursery; and it was well, I suppose, that Miss Aggie had that arbitress of proprieties always beside her.

From The Tenants of Malory Volume 1 of 3 by Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan

The queen "sat arbitress," and perhaps prolonged her deliberations on the question, for the pleasure of receiving homage more than usually assiduous from both factions.

From Memoirs of the Court of Queen Elizabeth by Aikin, Lucy

A full-throated chorus informed her, and the arbitress detached the threads of the dispute with effortless dexterity.

From A Safety Match by Hay, Ian

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