arbitress

American  

[ahr-bi-tris] / ˈɑr bɪ trɪs /

noun

1. a woman who is an arbiter.

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arbitress British  

/ ˈɑːbɪtrɪs /

noun

1. a female arbitrator

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Usage

What does arbitress mean? Arbitress is a word for a woman who is an arbitrator—an independent, impartial third party that works to settle a dispute between two opposing sides, often by making a decision that they both agree to. This process is called arbitration. To act as an arbitrator is to arbitrate. These terms are especially used in the context of negotiations between businesses and labor unions as well as in international disputes. Many once widely-used gender-specific terms that identify a particular professional person as a woman (such as stewardess) are now much less commonly used. The word arbitress is particularly rare. It’s possible that a woman may use the term arbitress to identify her position or profession, but this is not common. Using the word to refer to a woman who is an arbitrator is likely to be seen as offensive due to implying that her gender is somehow relevant to her role.

Gender

What's the difference between arbitress and arbiter? See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of arbitress

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French arbitresse, equivalent to arbitre arbit(e)r + -esse -ess

Example Sentences

Ottima.Bind it thrice about my brow; Crown me your queen, your spirit's arbitress, Magnificent in sin.

From Selections from the Poems and Plays of Robert Browning by Reynolds, Myra

He loved her so tenderly that from the first day of their marriage he had constituted her the arbitress of his wishes.

From The Old Yellow Book Source of Robert Browning's The Ring and the Book by Anonymous

So the whole year shall own thy womb to be Its sovereign arbitress of good; in thee Merge all its titles.

From The Complete Works of Richard Crashaw, Volume II (of 2) by Crashaw, Richard

Is it more preferable to leave another arbitress of thy fate, than to exercise that office for thyself?

From Mercedes of Castile The Voyage to Cathay by Cooper, J. Fenimore

So she bids him; so he crowns her— "My great white queen, my spirit's arbitress, Magnificent . . ."

From Browning's Heroines by Armfield, Maxwell