mister

[ mis-ter ]

/ ˈmɪs tər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR mister ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

(initial capital letter) a conventional title of respect for a man, prefixed to the name and to certain official designations (usually written as the abbreviation Mr.).

Informal. sir (used in direct address and not followed by the name of the man addressed): Mister, is this your umbrella?

(initial capital letter) a title prefixed to a mock surname that is used to represent possession of a particular attribute, identity, etc.: Mister Know-it-all.

the informal or social title used in addressing a military warrant officer or any naval officer below the rank of commander.

(especially in military schools and colleges)

a term of respect used by cadets in addressing upperclassmen: used with surname.
a term of disparagement used by upperclassmen in addressing cadets: Mister, tuck in that shirttail!

Older Use. husband: You and the mister staying long?

verb (used with object)

to address or speak of as “mister” or “Mr.”

Nearby words

mistal, mistassini, mistbow, mistcoat, misteach, mister, mister charlie, misterioso, mistflower, misthink, misti

Origin of mister

First recorded in 1545–55; variant of master

Definition for mister (2 of 2)

mister

[ mis-ter ]

/ ˈmɪs tər /

noun

a spray, nozzle, or similar device for misting plants.

Origin of mister

mist + -er¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for mister

Mister Ham in need of cash: That is something a lot of people will not believe.
The Stacks: Sell the Overcoat, Keep the Dignity|Paul Hemphill|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And this week it was Mister Ham, General Delivery, United States.
The Stacks: Sell the Overcoat, Keep the Dignity|Paul Hemphill|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Maybe you need a good overcoat for Christmas,” Mister Ham was saying.
The Stacks: Sell the Overcoat, Keep the Dignity|Paul Hemphill|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Nobody bothered to tell Mister Ham about it until the following August.
The Stacks: Sell the Overcoat, Keep the Dignity|Paul Hemphill|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And it was sad, very sad, to be with Mister Ham Wednesday afternoon.
The Stacks: Sell the Overcoat, Keep the Dignity|Paul Hemphill|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"Just the same, Mister, you get down off that little boy," ordered Mr. Felsburg.
Back Home|Irvin S. Cobb
Strike—any—gait—that—suits—you,—Mister;—I guess—I—will—be —able—to—keep—up—with—you.
Andersonville, complete|John McElroy
My business is private, mister; I wants to see the head man.
Children of the Mist|Eden Phillpotts
That's got a handle to it but it ain't so much like the handle to an ice pitcher as Mister is.
Shavings|Joseph C. Lincoln
I had heard my father talk of England's power and might, and Mister Moultrie seemed to me a very brave man in his little fort.
The Crossing|Winston Churchill

British Dictionary definitions for mister (1 of 2)

mister

/ (ˈmɪstə) sometimes capital /

noun

an informal form of address for a man

navy

the official form of address for subordinate or senior warrant officers
the official form of address for all officers in a merchant ship, other than the captain
US navy the official form of address used by the commanding officer to his officers, esp to the more junior

British the form of address for a surgeon

the form of address for officials holding certain positionsmister chairman

verb

(tr) informal to call (someone) mister

Word Origin for mister

C16: variant of master

British Dictionary definitions for mister (2 of 2)

Mister

/ (ˈmɪstə) /

noun

the full form of Mr

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