mistress

[ mis-tris ]

noun

1. 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!

2. Sometimes Mistress. the dominant sexual partner, when female, in a BDSM relationship of unequal power.
3. none Mistress. a term of address in former use and corresponding to Mrs., Miss, or Ms.
4. British. a female schoolteacher; schoolmistress.
5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. (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.

9. 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.

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

    mistress of a great fortune.

11. 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.

12. Archaic. sweetheart.

mistress

¹

/ ˈmɪstrɪs /

noun

1. a woman who has a continuing extramarital sexual relationship with a man
2. a woman in a position of authority, ownership, or control, such as the head of a household
3. a woman or female personification having control over something specified

   she was mistress of her own destiny

4. short for schoolmistress
5. an archaic or dialect word for sweetheart

Mistress

²

/ ˈmɪstrɪs /

noun

1. an archaic or dialect title equivalent to Mrs

Gender Note

See -ess none.

Other Words From

• mis·tressed adjective
• mis·tress-ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of mistress¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English maistresse, from Middle French, Old French, equivalent to maistre master none + -esse -ess none

Word History and Origins

Origin of mistress¹

C14: from Old French; see master , -ess

Example Sentences

Leonardo had done such sorts of composition before, most notably in the exquisite “Lady With an Ermine,” a portrait of the Duke of Milan’s beautiful 16-year-old mistress.

From Los Angeles Times

A woman who posted naked photographs of her father's former mistress on an escort site as an act of "revenge" has been jailed for three years.

From BBC

Meieran used to write off some of the more sensationalist legends about Clifton’s, like rumors of a mistress’ remains being scattered in the ballroom.

From Los Angeles Times

She’s a natural, a self-starter, a quick learner, a hard bargainer, a mistress of disguise — really just putting on a wig, some good clothes and a posh British or American accent.

From Los Angeles Times

Katz helped Rose through two divorces, an uncontested paternity suit filed by a woman claiming to have been his mistress, government liens, tax troubles and his unceasing clamor for reinstatement.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• girlfriend
• paramour
• sweetheart