mistress

[ mis-tris ]

/ ˈmɪs trɪs /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for mistress on Thesaurus.com

Definition of mistress

noun

a woman who, most often secretly, has an ongoing sexual relationship with, and sometimes is financially supported by, someone who is openly married to, engaged to, or living with another person: If Mr. G thinks his wife doesn’t know he has a mistress, he’s dead wrong—just ask Mrs. G’s private investigator!

Sometimes Mistress . the dominant sexual partner, when female, in a BDSM relationship of unequal power.

Mistress . a term of address in former use and corresponding to Mrs., Miss, or Ms.

British. a female schoolteacher; schoolmistress.

Sometimes Mistress . something regarded as feminine that has control or supremacy: Because each enjoyed an era of naval superiority, both Venice and Britain were once known as the Mistress of the Seas.

Older Use. a woman who has authority, control, or power, especially the female head of a household, institution, or other establishment: I’m sorry, the mistress of the house is not presently available.

Older Use. a woman employing, or in authority over, servants or attendants: The maid laid out two outfits every morning so that her mistress might choose the one that best suited her mood.

(especially in historical use) a female owner of enslaved people, in the institution of chattel slavery; a female slaveholder: Her father’s last will and testament made her mistress of his slaves after his death in 1837.

Older Use. a female owner of a pet or other animal: That horse can only be handled by his mistress and a few of the grooms.

Older Use. a woman who has the power of controlling or disposing of something at her own pleasure: mistress of a great fortune.

Obsolete. a woman who is skilled in something; a female master of an occupation or art: She and her sister are both mistresses of the harpsichord.

Archaic. sweetheart.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of mistress

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English maistresse, from Middle French, Old French, equivalent to maistre master + -esse -ess

usage note for mistress

See -ess.

OTHER WORDS FROM mistress

mis·tressed, adjectivemis·tress-ship, noun

Words nearby mistress

mistletoe cactus, mistook, mistral, mistranslate, mistreat, mistress, mistress of ceremonies, Mistress of the Robes, mistrial, mistrust, mistrustful

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use mistress in a sentence

Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke said that even after Watts was convicted, people sent angry emails about the killer dad’s mistress not being prosecuted, too.
Incels, Men’s Rights Groups, and Culture-War Trolls Glom Onto Gabby Petito’s Death|Kate Briquelet|September 27, 2021|The Daily Beast
For decades, Israel was the mistress every nation wanted to be with in private but didn’t necessarily want to acknowledge in public because of its treatment of Palestinians.
The Israel Model: COVID and Democracy|Nick Fouriezos|May 11, 2021|Ozy
Her Catholic father, Baron Maximilian von Schoenebeck, drank only the finest wine, collected rare antiques and preferred his mistresses beautiful but not too intelligent.
‘Sybille Bedford’ is a gossipy appreciation of an oft-overlooked literary great|Michael Dirda|February 17, 2021|Washington Post
It’s while staying at the sober-living facility that Wendy learns Kevin and his mistress are having a child, a betrayal that leads her to decisively end their marriage — and their business relationship.
Wendy Williams seems like the perfect Lifetime movie subject. So why is it so unsettling to watch?|Bethonie Butler|January 31, 2021|Washington Post

When I proposed to draw on these stories and do a profile of Greene for Playboy magazine, he gave me the go-ahead, with the proviso that I not mention his last mistress, Yvonne Cloetta.
The dramatic — and embellished — life of Graham Greene|Michael Mewshaw|January 15, 2021|Washington Post
After a stint with a replacement Head Mistress went sour, R seriously considered shutting down La Domaine for good.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And Pope Alexander VI had the painter Pinturicchio disguise his mistress as the Virgin Mary in one fresco.
Great Renaissance Art Thrived Amid Filth|Nick Romeo|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Head mistress Jean Harris is the ultimate proof of “Hell Hath No Fury like a Woman Scorned.”
Headmasters Behaving Badly|Emily Shire|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On top of the pleasure (or pain), the clients who saw Mistress Carla received their own additional perks.
Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix|Justin Jones|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The most infamous case was that of Kanae Kijima, a onetime housekeeper who became a highly paid mistress.
Beware of Japan’s “Black Widows”|Jake Adelstein|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Woman is mistress of the art of completely embittering the life of the person on whom she depends.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou
But Mary had gone home after dressing her mistress, and the fat boy came back again more disturbed than before.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
The mistress of the house affectionately inquired if she felt equal to a short conversation.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Her young mistress got up and approached her, also growing pale, for she perceived that danger was at the door.
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
They made an odd procession as they marched out of the hall, under the sullen eyes of the baulked cut-throats and their mistress.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for mistress (1 of 2)

mistress

/ (ˈmɪstrɪs) /

noun

a woman who has a continuing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

a woman in a position of authority, ownership, or control, such as the head of a household

a woman or female personification having control over something specifiedshe was mistress of her own destiny

mainly British short for schoolmistress

an archaic or dialect word for sweetheart

Word Origin for mistress

C14: from Old French; see master, -ess

British Dictionary definitions for mistress (2 of 2)

Mistress

/ (ˈmɪstrɪs) /

noun

an archaic or dialect title equivalent to Mrs

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

mistress

Definition of mistress

Origin of mistress

usage note for mistress

OTHER WORDS FROM mistress

Words nearby mistress

Words related to mistress

How to use mistress in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mistress (1 of 2)

Word Origin for mistress

British Dictionary definitions for mistress (2 of 2)