missus

noun

mis·​sus ˈmi-səz How to pronounce missus (audio)
-səs,
 especially Southern  -zəz
variants or missis
1
informal + old-fashioned : wife
… everybody knew Mr. Levov and everybody asked after the missus and the boys.Philip Roth
2
British, informal
used to address a woman whose name is not known
3
dialect : mistress sense 1a

Examples of missus in a Sentence

after their children grew up and moved out, they looked to move into a smaller place where he and the missus could retire comfortably
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sensing the tension between the marrieds, Mr. Wheeler suggested that Hunt get his missus flowers on the way home. Charlie Mason, TVLine, 24 Oct. 2024 So the missus doesn’t care for Scotland’s wind and rain? Bob Gillespie, Charlotte Observer, 19 July 2024 As evidenced in part by the gleeful grin the missus flashed at her groom around 2 a.m., after everyone else had climbed into SUVs and made the short trip back to the cluster of guest houses on the property and to local inns. Karen Schneider, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2023 This production is anchored dramatically by Thomas M. Shea, who offers a deep and unstinting dive into Peachum, a nasty piece of work, and musically by Megan Elk, who plays his missus. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2023 But this is also where this mister and the missus once stood and danced together—walk, walk, walk, and step hold—and there are the starry, late blooming flowers, and the shadblow and a birch, and a shrubbery garden border. Diane Williams, Harper's Magazine, 8 Feb. 2022 Anywhere that has a beach will be very exciting for the missus. Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2022 Jones comes over for dinner, Chapel gets nasty, Jones turns the table over and absconds with the missus. John Anderson, WSJ, 1 Dec. 2022 The missus, Ciara Wilson herself, on that main stage during the historical Essence Festival... oregonlive, 1 Mar. 2021

Word History

Etymology

alteration of mistress

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of missus was in 1790

Dictionary Entries Near missus

Cite this Entry

“Missus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/missus. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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