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dominatrix

American  
[dom-uh-ney-triks] / ˌdɒm əˈneɪ trɪks /

noun

dominatrices, plural dominatrixes plural
  1. a woman who plays the dominant role in a BDSM sexual encounter or relationship, often in a paid or professional capacity.

  2. a woman who dominates, oppresses, or behaves in a dictatorial way.


dominatrix British  
/ ˌdɒmɪˈneɪtrɪks /

noun

  1. a woman who is the dominant sexual partner in a sadomasochistic relationship

  2. a dominant woman

"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

Gender

See -trix.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of dominatrix

First recorded in 1555–65; Latin: literally, “female ruler, mistress”; see origin at dominate, -trix

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

And Game Of Thrones star Maisie Williams plays "the face of punk", the iconoclastic model and actress Pamela Rooke, whose signature style - ripped fishnets, dominatrix heels and raccoon-like eye make-up - defined the scene.

From BBC Jan. 11, 2021

Wangechi Mutu’s 2019 figure stalks and struts, a cultural hybrid encompassing an Afrofuturist queen, samurai warrior, eco-avenger, disco diva and dominatrix.

From The Guardian Oct. 11, 2019

But Margaret Corvid, a U.K.-based writer and professional dominatrix, rejects the notion that women should bear the burden of stopping violence mostly perpetrated by men.

From MSNBC Dec. 4, 2015

On April Fools’ Day 2008, a former music publicist and retired dominatrix named Erin Norris signed the lease on a derelict Brooklyn storefront where she intended to open a sausage restaurant called Grindhaus.

From New York Times Jul. 15, 2014

Mabel Simmons — known as Madea to her extended family, and to millions of Tyler Perry devotees — is a dominatrix of tough love.

From Time Apr. 24, 2011

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