Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

doctress

noun
Save Word
doc·​tress | \ ˈdäktrə̇s \
variants: or less commonly doctoress \ -​t(ə)rə̇s \
plural -es

Definition of doctress

: a woman in some cultures who is believed to have magic powers and to be able to cure illness

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

History and Etymology for doctress

doctor + -ess

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about doctress

Statistics for doctress

Cite this Entry

“Doctress.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/doctress. Accessed 8 December 2019.

Comments on doctress

What made you want to look up doctress? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

circumscribe

Listen to the pronounciation of circumscribe

to constrict the range or activity of

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Semantic Drift Quiz

  • a twisty river
  • Which of the following was once a synonym for fun?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games