missus

noun

mis·​sus ˈmi-səz 

-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

Synonyms

• wife

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

My mum and dad, my missus, and the kids did a different type of jail. —Simon Hughes, New York Times, 11 July 2025

Hey boy, my missus need help scrubbin this outhouse. —Sidik Fofana, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025

Anyway, Wharton and his new missus enter and take to the dance floor; while everyone’s attention is on the couple, the handmaids continue their work of making sure everyone wearing a white bonnet has her own personal death stick. —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 13 May 2025

Well, Richard hadn’t talked to his missus on his behalf after all. —Charlie Mason, TVLine, 17 Apr. 2025

So my missus understands, and everyone understands. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 2 Mar. 2025

Olivia Colman plays the singing nun in charge of the Home for Retired Bears; Paddington’s accompanied on his jungle excursion by the Brown family, headed once again by Hugh Bonneville, this time with Emily Mortimer (replacing Sally Hawkins) as the missus. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 2 Jan. 2025

With the missus' blessing to unleash hell on the Duttons, Banner returns to Whitfield. —Matt Cabral, EW.com, 16 Mar. 2025

So my missus understands, and everyone understands. —Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 2 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of mistress

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for missus

• fices
• hisses
• kisses
• misses
• missis
• characterises
• dismisses
• premisses