What does manageress mean?
A manageress is, literally, a female manager: a woman responsible for supervising a business, institution, department, or establishment. The word was especially common in Britain during the 19th and early 20th centuries, when many occupational titles explicitly identified the holder’s sex, often through the suffix “-ess.” In older documents it can therefore be found in titles such as “hotel manageress” and “assistant manageress.” Although the definition is straightforward, the term is now dated and uncommon. Modern speakers normally use “manager” for a role held by anyone, since the shorter term avoids unnecessarily marking gender. A manageress historically had the same managerial duties and status as a man described by the corresponding title “manager.”
nounA woman who manages a business, institution, or department; especially a female manager.
- A woman who has managerial responsibility for a business, organization, department, or establishment.
"She was appointed manageress of the hotel in 1932."
"The manageress oversaw the daily operations of the factory."
"By 1910, she had become manageress of the branch office."
The regular plural is formed by adding “-es” to the final “-ess.”
"The two manageresses coordinated the opening of the new offices."
The suffix “-ess” made an occupation explicitly female; today, simply saying “manager” avoids marking the manager’s gender.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does manageress come from?
The word was formed in the 19th century by adding the feminine suffix “-ess” to “manager.” “Manager” itself comes through French from Latin manu agere, an expression meaning “to conduct or administer by hand,” while the English suffix “-ess” has long been used to form feminine equivalents of occupational terms.
How manageress is actually used
Now archaic, rare, and strongly dated. In contemporary usage, “manager” is preferred because it is not gender-marked.
Easily confused with manageress
“Manageress” is a dated, explicitly feminine form of “manager,” whereas “manager” is gender-neutral in modern use.