headmistress

American  

[hed-mis-tris] / ˈhɛdˈmɪs trɪs /

noun

1. a woman in charge of a private school.

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headmistress British  

/ ˌhɛdˈmistrəs /

noun

1. Gender-neutral form: head teacher.  a female principal of a school

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Gender

See -ess.

Other Word Forms

• headmistress-ship
  noun
• headmistressship
  noun

Etymology

Origin of headmistress

First recorded in 1870–75; head + mistress

Explanation

A headmistress is the female principal of a school, particularly a private school. You might need to ask the headmistress of your high school for a college recommendation. Private schools and prep schools often call the person in charge a headmaste if he's a man and a headmistress if she's a woman. It's more common to have a principal in the United States, especially in public schools. The word headmistress is commonly thought of as British, but it's increasingly likely that a British student will use the term head teacher instead, since it can refer to either a man or a woman.

Example Sentences

Student-made memes depict the administrator behind the proposal as Gandalf from “Lord of the Rings” saying “You shall not pass!” or as Dolores Umbridge, the tyrannical Hogwarts headmistress from “Harry Potter.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

"Over the years, we had lower and lower people who decided to come to this school," the headmistress says, in English, hinting at tensions.

From BBC • Jul. 19, 2025

Headteacher Katharine Birbalsingh, who calls herself Britain’s strictest headmistress, said the ruling was a victory for all schools.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 16, 2024

She’s the headmistress of a school that is literally collapsing, and her marriage to Dave is in peril because the couple has buried their grief after losing a child.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2023

“What a lovely surprise. I am Madame Edith, headmistress of your new home. Welcome to our humble establishment.”

From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine