variants
or missis
1
informal + old-fashioned
: wife
… everybody knew Mr. Levov and everybody asked after the missus and the boys.—
Philip Roth
Philip Roth2
British, informal
—used to address a woman whose name is not known
3
dialect
: mistress sense 1a
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
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
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Missus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/missus. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share