Mrs.

American  

[mis-iz, miz-iz] / ˈmɪs ɪz, ˈmɪz ɪz /

abbreviation

plural

Mmes

1. a title of respect prefixed to the surname or full name of a married woman.

   Mrs. Jones; Mrs. Susan Jones.

2. a title prefixed to a mock surname that is used to represent possession of a particular attribute, identity, etc., especially in an idealized or excessive way.

   Mrs. Punctuality.

---

Mrs British  

/ ˈmɪsɪz /

noun

1. a title used before the name or names of a married woman

---

Pronunciation

Mrs., first recorded in the early 17th century, was originally, like Miss, an abbreviation of mistress. Mrs. and mistress were at first used interchangeably in all contexts, but by the second half of that century, the written form of the abbreviation was largely confined to use as a title preceding a woman's surname. By the early 19th century, reduction of the medial consonant cluster had contracted the usual pronunciation of the title from to or . The contracted pronunciation used other than as a title was not considered standard, and today, locutions like Let me discuss it with the missis are perceived as old-fashioned. Currently, two main types of pronunciation for the abbreviation occur in the United States; and sometimes are the common forms in the North and North Midland, while in the South Midland and South, the prevalent types are and , the latter homophonous with the usual pronunciation of the abbreviation Ms.

Gender

See Ms.

Etymology

Origin of Mrs.

Abbreviation of mistress

Example Sentences

She refused to answer to any form of “mother” or “mom” or “Mrs.,” forcing Janet and any friends she brought home to call her Star, though her name was actually Sharon.

From Literature

Mrs. Jones’s feet make shuffling sounds on her porch, and I don’t have to see her to know she’s scanning the alleyway, squinting into the shadows.

From Literature

“Mr. and Mrs. Bohm love their son very much and have always acted in his best interests, both personally and professionally, and still do so to this day,” lawyer Robert Eckard said.

From Los Angeles Times

Fifty-five years later, Mr. and Mrs. Cummins live together in the house where they met.

From Los Angeles Times

“That’s Mrs. van den Keukel. Her brother came back from Indonesia with malaria and she’s been nursing him. Corrie,” as I sped back down the stairs, “ask her how Mrs. Rinker’s baby is!”

From Literature

Related Words

• girl
• mother