mistress

noun

mis·tress ˈmi-strəs

plural mistresses

Synonyms of mistress next

: a woman who has power, authority, or ownership: such as

: the female head of a household

the mistress of the house

: a woman who employs or supervises servants

The servants did their mistress's bidding without question.

: a woman who possesses, owns, or controls something

the mistress of a large fortune

Whether mongrels or thoroughbreds … dogs have shared their masters' and mistresses' experiences in almost all walks of life.—

Robert Rosenblum

: a woman who is in charge of a school or other establishment : headmistress

Mrs. Goddard was the mistress of a school …—

Jane Austen

: a woman of the Scottish nobility having a status comparable to that of a master (see master sense 3b)

chiefly British : a female teacher or tutor

: a woman who has achieved mastery in some field

She was a mistress of music.

You learn how to chop throats and gouge eyes and stomp insteps … and after eight weeks you're given your diploma, which officially declares you a mistress of unarmed combat.—

Arthur R. Miller

: a woman considered especially notable for something

After penning several apocalyptic books, she became known as the mistress of doom.

: something personified as female that rules, directs, or dominates

… France was master of the Continent, England mistress of the seas.—

James MacGregor Burns

Yet he was sharp and self-interested enough (serving, that is, his demanding mistress, Painting) to write more than 400 letters …—

Ronald Pickvance

: a woman other than his wife with whom a married man has a continuing sexual relationship

archaic : sweetheart

—used archaically as a title prefixed to the name of a married or unmarried woman

chiefly Southern US and Midland US

—used as a conventional title of courtesy except when usage requires the substitution of a title of rank or an honorific or professional title before a married woman's surname : mrs. sense 1a

: an often professional dominatrix

With each addition of pain or restraint, he stiffens slightly, then falls into a deeper calm, a deeper peace, waiting to obey his mistress.—

Marianne Apostolides

Example Sentences

The dog was always obedient to its master and mistress. the master and mistress of the house a married man who has a mistress His wife suspected that the woman she'd seen with him was his mistress.

Recent Examples on the Web Ruth’s husband’s mistress was also Korean, and taught at the same university. —

Han Ong, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2023 The woman then falls in love with the mistress’s son. —

Variety, NBC News, 30 Nov. 2022 Is the sassy mistress the Moon Person statue, the network itself, or the execs who keep nominating you? —

Vulture, 28 Aug. 2022 The short version goes like this: In January 1889, Crown Prince Rudolf retreated to a hunting lodge with his 17-year-old mistress, the Baroness Marie Vetsera. —

Elle Carroll, Vulture, 30 Nov. 2022 The building, which has a quaint brick facade and bright blue shutters, was once owned by former New York City mayor Jimmy Walker, who bought it in the 1920s for his mistress. —

Curbed, 12 Oct. 2022 The Queen was allegedly unhappy about her son's relationship with his former mistress. —

Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 12 Aug. 2022 After Anthony's affair with his mistress in season 1, Kate comes in as his new love interest in season 2. —

Samantha Olson, Seventeen, 4 Jan. 2022 See More

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