mistress

noun

mis·​tress ˈmi-strəs 

plural mistresses

1

: a woman who has power, authority, or ownership: such as

a

: the female head of a household

the mistress of the house

b

: a woman who employs or supervises servants

The servants did their mistress's bidding without question.

c

: a woman who possesses, owns, or controls something

the mistress of a large fortune

Whether mongrels or thoroughbreds … dogs have shared their masters' and mistresses' experiences in almost all walks of life.

—Robert Rosenblum

d

: a woman who is in charge of a school or other establishment : headmistress

Mrs. Goddard was the mistress of a school …

—Jane Austen

e

: a woman of the Scottish nobility having a status comparable to that of a master (see master sense 3b)

2

a

chiefly British : a female teacher or tutor

b

: a woman who has achieved mastery in some field

She was a mistress of music.

You learn how to chop throats and gouge eyes and stomp insteps … and after eight weeks you're given your diploma, which officially declares you a mistress of unarmed combat.

—Arthur R. Miller

c

: a woman considered especially notable for something

After penning several apocalyptic books, she became known as the mistress of doom.

3

: something personified as female that rules, directs, or dominates

… France was master of the Continent, England mistress of the seas.

—James MacGregor Burns

Yet he was sharp and self-interested enough (serving, that is, his demanding mistress, Painting) to write more than 400 letters …

—Ronald Pickvance

4

a

: a woman other than his wife with whom a married man has a continuing sexual relationship

b

archaic : sweetheart

5

a

—used archaically as a title prefixed to the name of a married or unmarried woman

b

chiefly Southern US and Midland US

—used as a conventional title of courtesy except when usage requires the substitution of a title of rank or an honorific or professional title before a married woman's surname : mrs. sense 1a

6

: an often professional dominatrix

With each addition of pain or restraint, he stiffens slightly, then falls into a deeper calm, a deeper peace, waiting to obey his mistress.

—Marianne Apostolides

Synonyms

• concubine
• doxy
• doxie
• other woman

Examples of mistress in a Sentence

The dog was always obedient to its master and mistress.

the master and mistress of the house

a married man who has a mistress

His wife suspected that the woman she'd seen with him was his mistress.

Recent Examples on the Web

In order to get The Mikado off the ground, the two composers need to get everyone onboard: the old actors, the new boys, the producers, the choreographer, the costume designer, the stagehands, the orchestra … to say nothing of their wives and mistresses back home. —Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024

That signaled that the series would become an anthology, after Season 1 starred Jake Gyllenhaal as prosecutor Rusty Sabich, who was accused of murdering his colleague and mistress. —Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 29 Oct. 2024

Israeli spy agencies have uncovered information about Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr's plans to marry his four mistresses over the phone, according to a report. —Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 30 Dec. 2024

But Optimus, who in the video seems more than happy to be at his mistress’s beck and call, appears less subservient in a series of pictures in which Kardashian, wearing spike heels and lingerie, poses beside him and a gold Tesla Cybercab. —Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English maistresse, from Anglo-French mestresse, feminine of mestre master — more at master

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing mistress

• mistress of ceremonies

Kids Definition

mistress

noun

mis·​tress ˈmis-trəs 

1

: a woman who has control or authority like that of a master

the mistress of the household

2

: something considered as a female that rules or directs

3

: a woman to whom a man is not married and with whom he has a romantic relationship

4

—used formerly as a title before the name of a woman

Etymology

Middle English maistresse "mistress," from early French mestresse (same meaning), a feminine form of mestre "master" — related to master