mistress
4 synonyms and 0 antonyms for mistress, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A woman having an ongoing romantic or sexual relationship with a man who is married to someone else.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use mistress
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French maistresse, the feminine form of maistre, "master."
Full origin of 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."