What does editrix mean?
An editrix is a woman who serves as an editor, particularly the presiding editor of a magazine, newspaper, or similar publication. The word pairs the verb root of 'edit' with the Latin feminine suffix '-trix', the same ending that produced aviatrix, executrix, andatrix-like forms such as dominatrix, making it part of a small, distinctive family of Latinate feminine agent nouns in English. Unlike neutral terms such as 'editor' or 'editor-in-chief', editrix carries a strong stylistic flavor: it evokes mid-century publishing glamour, imperious newsroom authority, and a certain camp self-awareness, which is why it surfaces most often in fashion journalism, literary memoirs, and playful profiles of powerful women in media. It is not required by modern usage — 'editor' is fully gender-neutral and overwhelmingly preferred in formal writing — but it remains a vivid, characterful choice when a writer wants to convey both the role and the persona of a woman at the helm of a publication.
nounA woman who is an editor, especially the editor-in-chief of a newspaper, magazine, or other publication.
- A woman who edits or directs a publication, especially as editor-in-chief.
- More broadly, any woman who works as an editor.
"The magazine's founding editrix shaped its irreverent voice for over a decade."
"The young editrix overhauled the struggling quarterly and doubled its circulation within two years."
"As editrix of the school paper, she assigned every feature and wrote half the headlines."
Both plural forms are attested; 'editrices' preserves the Latinate feel of the singular, while 'editrixes' follows ordinary English pluralization. Neither is common, since the word itself is rare.
"The panel gathered several veteran editrixes to discuss the future of print."
Like aviatrix and executrix, editrix borrows Latin's built-in 'female' ending -trix — a suffix that once did grammar's job and now mostly does branding's.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of editrix
The word combines 'edit', from the Latin edere meaning 'to give out, publish', with the feminine agent suffix '-trix', borrowed directly from Latin forms like victrix and generatrix. English formed a cluster of such feminine nouns in the 17th century for legal and professional roles, including executrix and testatrix, and later coinages like aviatrix extended the pattern into new professions. Editrix arose within this tradition as a feminine counterpart to 'editor', alongside the rival form 'editress'; while editress has fallen out of use, editrix has survived as a rare but flavorful term in publishing contexts.
Related word forms
How editrix is actually used
Editrix is rare and stylistically marked: it appears mainly in journalism culture, fashion and literary circles, or deliberately retro and tongue-in-cheek contexts. In neutral prose, 'editor' is standard for all genders; using editrix signals personality, wit, or homage to mid-20th-century magazine culture rather than serving a grammatical need.
Easily confused with editrix
Editress is an older, now largely obsolete feminine form of editor formed with the -ess suffix, whereas editrix uses the Latinate -trix suffix and survives chiefly in playful or stylized usage.