mistress

mistress — noun

1. a woman in a secret romantic relationship with someone who is married to another

1.nounB2
Definition

a woman in a secret romantic relationship with someone who is married to another person

Example

The newspaper reported that the wealthy businessman had kept a mistress in a city apartment for years.

collocation: keep a mistress

Bilal's aunt was devastated when she discovered that her husband of twenty years had a secret mistress.

Common collocations
  • keeps a mistress
  • has a mistress
  • married man's mistress
  • secret mistress
Synonyms
  • lover

    more neutral term that does not imply marriage or secrecy on either side

  • paramour

    formal or literary term, avoids moral judgment but sounds dated

  • girlfriend

    casual and modern, but implies an acknowledged rather than secret relationship

Antonyms
  • wife

    the married woman in the legally recognised relationship

Grammar Patterns

[married man]'s mistress

has a mistress

keeps a mistress

Usage Note

This is the most common meaning of 'mistress' in modern English. The word carries a strong moral judgment about the arrangement and can be seen as shaming the woman involved. There is no common male equivalent; 'master' in this context is not used. More neutral alternatives include 'lover' or 'partner'.

Common Mistakes

He is her mistress.
She is his mistress.
'Mistress' only refers to the woman in the relationship.
She is his master.
She is his mistress.
'Master' is never used as the male equivalent of 'mistress' in this sense.

2. a female person who holds authority over a household, directs staff, or oversees

2.nounC1
Definition

a female person who holds authority over a household, directs staff, or oversees a particular area of activity

Example

Nia's great-grandmother was the mistress of a large country estate in the Scottish Highlands.

collocation: mistress of [place/property]

Élise served as mistress of ceremonies for the annual charity dinner and auction.

fixed phrase: mistress of ceremonies

Common collocations
  • mistress of ceremonies
  • mistress of the house
  • mistress of the manor
  • mistress of an art
Synonyms
  • head

    modern, gender-neutral term for a person in charge of an organization or household

  • proprietress

    specifically a woman who owns a business or property, more formal

  • matriarch

    focuses on the woman's role as the head of a family or community

Antonyms
  • servant

    a person employed to work in another person's household, under the mistress's authority

Grammar Patterns

mistress + of + [noun phrase]

Usage Note

This sense is now uncommon in everyday conversation. It survives mainly in fixed phrases like 'mistress of ceremonies' and in historical accounts of wealthy households with servants. The 'mastery' subsense (mistress of a skill) is literary or formal.

Common Mistakes

She is the master of the house.
She is the mistress of the house.
'master' is the male equivalent; 'mistress' is the female form in this traditional context.
The CEO is a mistress of finance.
The CEO is a master of finance.
For professional skills, 'master' is used regardless of gender in modern English.

3. a woman who teaches children at a school, particularly a private or boarding sch

3.nounB2
Definition

a woman who teaches children at a school, particularly a private or boarding school in the British educational system

Example

Reema's grandmother worked as the music mistress at a girls' boarding school for forty years.

The new history mistress at Christopher's school organised a field trip to the local castle ruins.

pattern: [subject] mistress — specific school subject

Common collocations
  • form mistress
  • music mistress
  • games mistress
  • English mistress
  • headmistress
Synonyms
  • teacher

    standard modern term, gender-neutral and used in all school contexts

  • instructor

    more formal, often used for specialised or adult education

  • governess

    historically a woman who taught children in their own home, not in a school

Grammar Patterns

[subject] mistress

the [subject] mistress

Usage Note

Chiefly British English, used mainly in the context of private or boarding schools (e.g. 'form mistress', 'games mistress'). In modern British state schools, 'teacher' is the standard term. 'Headmistress' is still used for the female head of some independent schools, though 'headteacher' is increasingly common.

Common Mistakes

My daughter's mistress called to discuss her grades.
My daughter's teacher called to discuss her grades.
'Mistress' for teacher can sound old-fashioned or odd outside British private-school contexts.

4. a female person looking after a pet animal, most commonly used for dogs in forma

4.nounB1
Definition

a female person looking after a pet animal, most commonly used for dogs in formal or competitive settings

Example

Felix watched the border collie run straight back to its mistress whenever he called its name.

possessive: [dog]'s mistress

The registration form for the dog show required the name and address of each dog's mistress or master.

Common collocations
  • the dog's mistress
  • the pet's mistress
Synonyms
  • owner

    standard modern term, gender-neutral, used in all contexts

  • pet parent

    informal, modern term emphasising care rather than ownership

Grammar Patterns

[dog]'s mistress

the dog's mistress

Usage Note

A technical or formal term used in dog breeding, canine competitions, and veterinary documentation. In everyday speech, 'owner' is used regardless of gender. This sense is much rarer than the 'lover' or 'teacher' senses and may sound old-fashioned to many speakers.

Common Mistakes

I am the mistress of a golden retriever.
I own a golden retriever.
Using 'mistress' for a pet owner in casual conversation sounds unnatural or overly formal.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Of these four terms for a romantic or sexual partner, 'mistress' is the most loaded: it specifically refers to a woman in a secret or extramarital relationship with a married man, and it carries a strong moral judgment that often shames the woman. 'Lover' is the most neutral option—it can describe any romantic or sexual partner regardless of marital status or gender, and it avoids the judgmental tone entirely, though it can sound slightly old-fashioned in casual use. 'Paramour' is a formal or literary word that sidesteps moral judgment but is rarely heard in everyday conversation. 'Girlfriend' is the most casual and modern term, but it implies a recognised, open relationship rather than a secret one. For example: 'The politician introduced his mistress to the press' suggests scandal, while 'He introduced his girlfriend to colleagues' suggests a normal relationship.

mistress ↗lover ↗paramourgirlfriend ↗

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • mistress of

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'mistress' came into English during the 1300s from Old French 'maistresse', the feminine form of 'maistre' (master). The French word itself goes back to Latin 'magister', meaning 'chief' or 'teacher'. For several centuries, 'mistress' was simply the female counterpart of 'master', used for women in positions of authority, ownership, or skill. The meaning of 'female teacher' developed in the 1500s, alongside the use of 'master' for male teachers. The sense of 'a woman in a secret sexual relationship with a married man' appeared in the 1600s and eventually became the most common modern meaning, largely replacing the earlier authority-related uses in everyday speech.