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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

See Examples For:

mister Mister

A civil protection officer handed out bottles of water and leaflets on how to behave in the extreme heat, standing in front of a 3,000-litre tanker feeding the mister and the crowds around it.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

Another took a similar courteous tone: “Erica, queen of them all… please let the mister give it one more go!”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026

So where am I supposed to check my lipstick, mister?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 25, 2026

He was the Duke of York and a prince when he moved in more than 20 years ago and now he's leaving as a plain old mister.

From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2026

"Yes, that’s right. So you've met him, then—’’ "I hate to tell you this, mister, but your friend is dead. Froze to death up on the tundra. Just read about it in Outdoor magazine.”

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer

Tristan said getting involved in the Mister England beauty pageant and representing England at Mister International helped jump start his wrestling career.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

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

“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

Yingtao in New York earned a star in 2024, a year after opening, and Mister Jiu’s in San Francisco has held a star since 2016.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2025

“I can’t pay you this week. Mister Pugsly had to go to the vet and I had to buy him some medicine and...”

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein