What does mayoress mean?
The term mayoress traditionally referred to the wife of a mayor, especially in ceremonial, social, and historical contexts. It could also be used in the earlier sense of a woman who held the office of mayor, although this usage has virtually disappeared from standard contemporary English. Today the word is usually encountered in older writing and may sound formal, quaint, or patronizing. For the spouse of a mayor, modern usage generally favors “the mayor's wife,” while “mayor” itself identifies the person holding the office, whether male or female. In literature, the expression can still be useful because it conveys social rank and a historical setting without explicitly describing the woman as someone's dependent. Its earlier occupational sense also appears in accounts of women exercising civic authority before the neutral title “mayor” became standard.
nounTraditionally, the wife of a mayor. The term was also formerly used for a woman holding the office of mayor.
- The wife of a mayor.
- Formerly, a woman holding the office of mayor.
"At the civic reception, the mayoress spoke briefly before welcoming the guests."
"The mayoress and her husband hosted the annual civic reception."
"In the period drama, the mayoress governed the town with composure and authority."
The plural follows the normal addition of -es to a noun ending in -s.
"The mayorsesses were introduced at the civic reception."
Once a formal title, “mayoress” now often reveals more about the era of a text than about the office itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mayoress come from?
The word was formed in English from mayor and the feminine suffix -ess. Mayor comes through Old French maire from Latin maior, meaning “greater,” and was originally associated with a person of higher rank. Major and majority are cognates that continue through forms of Latin maior.
How mayoress is actually used
The word is now traditional, dated, and sometimes regarded as patronizing. In contemporary writing, “the mayor's wife” is usually preferred when referring to a spouse, while “mayor” is used for the officeholder regardless of gender. The historical sense describing a female officeholder is largely obsolete.
Easily confused with mayoress
A mayor is the person holding the office, whereas a mayoress traditionally denotes the mayor's wife or, historically, a woman serving as mayor.