Mistress - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A mistress is a woman who has a continuing sexual relationship with a married man outside of his marriage. The term can also refer to a woman in a position of authority or control, such as the female head of a household.
Definition:
A woman in a position of authority or control, or a woman having an extramarital relationship with a married man.
Synonyms:
lover, paramour, kept woman
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
master, wife
Common Collocations:
headmistress, school mistress, kept mistress
Derivatives:
mistresses (plural), mistressship
Usage Tips:
Use "mistress" carefully due to its dual meanings—formal authority or illicit relationship—depending on context.
Common Phrases:
mistress of ceremonies, mistress of the house, kept mistress
Etymology:
From Old French *maistresse*, feminine of *maistre* (master), from Latin *magister* (chief, teacher).
Examples:
- 1. She became the mistress of the estate after her father's death.
- 2. The headmistress greeted the students on their first day of school.
- 3. He secretly visited his mistress every weekend.
- 4. The artist's muse was also his longtime mistress.