What does masseuse mean?
A masseuse is a woman who provides massage, usually as a professional service in a spa, clinic, health centre, or similar setting. The term traditionally distinguished her from a masseur, a male massage practitioner, but this gender distinction is now increasingly dated. In contemporary English, “massage therapist” is generally preferred because it is clear, professional, and gender-neutral. A masseuse may provide relaxation massage, sports recovery, or therapeutic bodywork, although the word does not itself guarantee specialist qualifications or medical expertise. In British usage, the older distinction between “masseur” and “masseuse” has weakened, and masseur may be used for any practitioner. In American usage, the gendered forms remain understandable but are less common than neutral alternatives. The word should be used carefully in contexts where massage could be interpreted sexually; “massage therapist” or “bodywork practitioner” is usually more appropriate.
nounA woman who provides massage as a professional service, especially to clients in a spa, clinic, or other therapeutic setting. The term can also be used more broadly for a practitioner of massage, though “massage therapist” is now more common and gender-neutral.
- A woman who gives massage professionally.
- A practitioner who provides massage, especially in a spa or therapeutic setting.
"She visited a professional masseuse to relieve tension in her shoulders."
"The masseuse asked whether she preferred a light or firm massage."
"After the match, the team masseuse helped the players recover from their injuries."
The regular plural is formed by adding “-s.”
"The spa employs three professional masseuses."
Once the standard term for a female massage practitioner, “masseuse” is now often heard as a slightly old-fashioned alternative to the gender-neutral “massage therapist.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does masseuse come from?
The word comes from French “masseuse,” the feminine form of “masseur,” meaning a person who gives massage. These French forms in turn derive from “massage,” which ultimately comes through French from Arabic “mashṭ,” meaning “to press, knead, or massage.” The English forms “massage,” “masseur,” and “masseuse” developed as related borrowings, although the gendered French-based terms have largely been replaced in modern usage by “massage therapist.”
Related word forms
How masseuse is actually used
The word is somewhat old-fashioned and may sound unusually explicit in some settings. “Massage therapist” is usually more natural, professional, and gender-neutral today; in British usage, “masseur” can still refer generically to a practitioner, though the distinction between masculine and feminine forms may also be considered dated.
Easily confused with masseuse
A masseur is a man who practices massage, whereas a masseuse is a woman; “massage therapist” is a neutral alternative when gender is irrelevant.