mistress
Mistress (noun) means a woman having an ongoing romantic or sexual relationship with a man who is married to someone else. Example: “The scandal broke when his mistress went to the press.”
How to Use Mistress
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTraditionally, the female counterpart of "master" — either a woman in charge, or a man's secret romantic partner outside marriage.
Word Forms
mistressed past tense, Mistresses plural, mistresses singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The scandal broke when his _____ went to the press.
Etymology
From Old French maistresse, the feminine form of maistre, "master."
Related Words
Rhymes for mistress
See all rhymes for mistress →Frequently Asked Questions
Does mistress always refer to a romantic relationship?
No, mistress has a second, unrelated sense referring to a woman in a position of authority or control, or the female head of a household, as in "mistress of the estate." This meaning has nothing to do with romantic relationships.
Is mistress a term still commonly used today?
The word is somewhat dated but still understood and used, particularly in discussions of historical relationships, literature, or when describing a woman's romantic involvement with a married man. The "head of household" sense also survives in more formal or historical contexts, such as "headmistress."