dominatrix

noun

do·​mi·​na·​trix ˌdä-mi-ˈnā-triks How to pronounce dominatrix (audio)
plural dominatrices ˌdä-mi-ˈnā-trə-sēz How to pronounce dominatrix (audio)
-nə-ˈtrī-sēz
also dominatrixes
: a woman who physically or psychologically dominates her partner in a sadomasochistic encounter
broadly : a dominating woman

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The woman who had once posed as a dominatrix, suddenly found herself in handcuffs. Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 3 June 2023 For example, Savannah Sly, a longtime dominatrix who shuttles between Vermont and Seattle, remembers a frightful instance 20 years ago, when payment platforms were in their infancy. Diti Kohli, BostonGlobe.com, 1 June 2023 Byer took on Berrin's script and, together, the duo created the raucously funny Power Dynamics, which chronicles the office antics that ensue after a moonlighting dominatrix is hired as her sub's executive assistant. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 Jan. 2023 The wall held black leather masks, gas masks, long silver chains and leather restraints, and what the dominatrix would later inform me was a device used for low-grade electric shocks. Laurie Segall, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2022 Fans of Strickland’s work don’t come to his films expecting likable characters, although some of them earn a kind of empathy from the audience (see, for example, Toby Jones’ terrified sound engineer in Berberian or Sidse Babett Knudsen’s long-suffering dominatrix in Duke). Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2022 From Neon, Sanctuary follows Hal (Christopher Abbott), the wealthy heir to a hotel empire, and his relationship with a dominatrix, Rebecca (Margaret Qualley). Brendan Morrow, The Week, 1 May 2023 The Comedy Central seasons sprinkled in footage of Schumer performing her standup act, conducting irreverent man-on-the-street interviews, and sitting down to chat with interesting, mostly non-famous guests ranging from a Catholic nun to a dominatrix. Time, 19 Oct. 2022 Specifically, the scene where Bane is working with a dominatrix. Selome Hailu, Variety, 9 Feb. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dominatrix.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin, feminine of dominator

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dominatrix was in 1971

Dictionary Entries Near dominatrix

Cite this Entry

“Dominatrix.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dominatrix. Accessed 10 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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