What does mistress mean?
A mistress is, in its most common modern sense, a woman who has a sexual relationship with a man other than his wife, usually while the man is married. The term can sound disapproving because it is associated with secrecy, adultery, and social scandal, although it may also be used neutrally in historical, biographical, or literary contexts. Older senses include a female teacher and, in archaic usage, the woman in charge of a household or estate. The word comes from the feminine form of an older word for a person in authority, and its historical connection with teaching and household management helps explain why it once carried respect as well as later social stigma. It is also worth distinguishing from “misstress,” which refers to incorrect pronunciation, and from the informal spelling “missus,” meaning a man's wife or partner.
A woman who has an extramarital sexual relationship with a man, especially one who is married.
"He left his wife and his mistress for good."
The modern sense often carries a negative or disapproving connotation, especially in journalism and historical accounts.
Historically, a female teacher.
"The pupils were told to pay attention to their mistress."
This sense is archaic or literary and is now encountered mainly in older texts.
Archaic or literary, a woman regarded as the head of a household or as having authority over a place or activity.
"She was mistress of the estate after her husband's death."
This use is chiefly literary, historical, or figurative.
The regular plural adds -es to the final s.
"The biographies describe several of the king's mistresses."
From the feminine of 'master' to the woman beside a married man, 'mistress' carries a dramatic history in a single word.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mistress come from?
The word entered Middle English from Old French mistress, the feminine of mestre, meaning teacher or master. These forms continued the Latin magister, meaning teacher, guide, or person in authority, and the related English word master has the same broad historical root. Its meanings developed from an authoritative female teacher or household head toward the now-dominant sense of a woman involved in an extramarital sexual relationship.
Related word forms
How mistress is actually used
In modern usage, the word most often has the sense of a woman in an extramarital relationship and may carry a derogatory or morally judgmental connotation. The older senses involving a female teacher or household head are chiefly historical or literary.
Easily confused with mistress
A mistress is a woman, especially one involved in an extramarital relationship, whereas a misstress is a word or phrase pronounced with the wrong stress.
Missus is an informal spelling of 'missus,' a term for a man's wife or a woman he lives with, and is not a standard spelling of 'mistress.'