Mistress vs. Mister — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 16, 2024
Mistress is a term that refers to a woman who has authority, control, or a romantic relationship with a man outside marriage, whereas Mister is a formal term of address for a man.
Difference Between Mistress and Mister
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Mistress historically refers to a woman who holds authority or control, such as the mistress of a household. Mister is a respectful title used to address or refer to a man, typically before the man's last name. It is a general honorific that conveys respect and is used in formal or polite contexts.
While mistress can imply a role of power or an illicit relationship, mister is a straightforward term of respect without any romantic or illicit connotations. Mistress may evoke both historical and contemporary meanings related to control or affairs, whereas mister is consistently used to denote respect or politeness.
Mistress can have both positive and negative connotations depending on context positive when indicating authority and negative when indicating an affair. Mister, however, is always neutral and respectful. For example, "She is the mistress of her own destiny" versus "He had a mistress for several years," and "Mister Roberts is our new teacher."
Comparison Chart
Definition
Woman with authority or in an illicit relationship
Formal address for a man
Gender
Female
Male
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Connotation
Can be positive (authority) or negative (affair)
Neutral and respectful
Usage Context
Authority or romantic/illicit context
Polite/formal address
Example Usage
Mistress of the household, kept a mistress
Mister Smith, Mister Jones
Compare with Definitions
Mistress
A woman in a position of authority or control.
She was the mistress of the grand estate.
Mister
Applied in formal and polite conversation.
Mister Williams, thank you for your time.
Mistress
A woman skilled in a particular activity or subject.
She is a mistress of the fine arts.
Mister
Used before a man's surname.
Mister Smith, please come in.
Mistress
A woman in a position of authority, control, or ownership, as the head of a household
"Thirteen years had seen her mistress of Kellynch Hall" (Jane Austen).
Mister
Common in addressing adult males in various settings.
The children greeted their teacher with 'Good morning, Mister Davis.'
Mistress
A woman who owns or keeps an animal
A cat sitting in its mistress's lap.
Mister
A respectful term of address for a man.
Mister Johnson will meet you at noon.
Mistress
A woman who owns a slave.
Mister
A formal title without indicating marital status.
Good evening, Mister Brown.
Mistress
A woman with ultimate control over something
The mistress of her own mind.
Mister
Variant form of Mr, often used humorously or with offensive emphasis
Look here, mister know-all
Mistress
A nation or country that has supremacy over others
Great Britain, once the mistress of the seas.
Mister
A device with a nozzle for spraying a mist of water, especially on houseplants.
Mistress
Something personified as female that directs or reigns
"my mistress ... the open road" (Robert Louis Stevenson).
Mister
Used as a courtesy title before the surname, full name, or professional title of a man, usually written in its abbreviated form
Mr. Jones.
Mr. Secretary.
Mistress
A woman who has mastered a skill or branch of learning
A mistress of the culinary art.
Mister
Used as the official term of address for certain US military personnel, such as warrant officers.
Mistress
Mistress Used formerly as a courtesy title when speaking to or of a woman.
Mister
Mister Informal Used as a form of address for a man
Watch your step, mister.
Mistress
Chiefly British A woman schoolteacher.
Mister
(Informal) One's husband or boyfriend
My mister says hello.
Mistress
A woman, specifically one with great control, authority or ownership
Male equivalent: master
She was the mistress of the estate-mansion, and owned the horses.
Mister
A title conferred on an adult male, usually when the name is unknown. Also used as a term of address, often by a parent to a young child.
You may sit here, mister.
Mistress
A female teacher
Male equivalent: master
Games mistress
Mister
(obsolete) Someone's business or function; an occupation, employment, trade.
Mistress
A dominatrix
Male equivalent: master
Mister
A kind, type of.
Mistress
A woman well skilled in anything, or having the mastery over it
Mister
(obsolete) Need (of something).
Mistress
A woman regarded with love and devotion; a sweetheart
Mister
(obsolete) Necessity; the necessary time.
Mistress
(Scotland) A married woman; a wife
Mister
A device that makes or sprays mist.
Odessa D. uses a mister Sunday to fight the 106-degree heat at a NASCAR race in Fontana, California.
Mistress
(obsolete) The jack in the game of bowls
Mister
(ambitransitive) To address by the title of "mister". 18
Mistress
A female companion to a master a man with control, authority or ownership
Mister
To be necessary; to matter.
Mistress
Female equivalent of master
Mister
A title of courtesy prefixed to the name of a man or youth. It is usually written in the abbreviated form Mr.
To call your name, inquire your where,Or what you think of Mister Some-one's book,Or Mister Other's marriage or decease.
Mistress
Female equivalent of mister
Mister
A trade, art, or occupation.
In youth he learned had a good mester.
Mistress
Of a woman: to master; to learn or develop to a high degree of proficiency.
Mister
Manner; kind; sort.
But telleth me what mester men ye be.
Mistress
(intransitive) To act or take the role of a mistress.
Mister
Need; necessity.
Mistress
A woman having power, authority, or ownership; a woman who exercises authority, is chief, etc.; the female head of a family, a school, etc.
The late queen's gentlewoman! a knight's daughter!To be her mistress' mistress!
Mister
To address or mention by the title Mr.; as, he mistered me in a formal way.
Mistress
A woman well skilled in anything, or having the mastery over it.
A letter desires all young wives to make themselves mistresses of Wingate's Arithmetic.
Mister
To be needful or of use.
As for my name, it mistereth not to tell.
Mistress
A woman regarded with love and devotion; she who has command over one's heart; a beloved object; a sweetheart.
Mister
A form of address for a man
Mistress
A title of courtesy formerly prefixed to the name of a woman, married or unmarried, but now superseded by the contracted forms, Mrs., for a married, and Miss, for an unmarried, woman.
Now Mistress Gilpin (careful soul).
Mistress
A married woman; a wife.
Several of the neighboring mistresses had assembled to witness the event of this memorable evening.
Mistress
The old name of the jack at bowls.
Mistress
To wait upon a mistress; to be courting.
Mistress
A woman schoolteacher (especially one regarded as strict)
Mistress
A woman master who directs the work of others
Mistress
A woman having an extramarital relationship with a married man.
He spent weekends with his mistress.
Mistress
An archaic term for a female teacher.
The young children adored their mistress.
Mistress
A woman who owns or controls something.
She is the mistress of her own fate.
Common Curiosities
What does mister mean?
Mister is a respectful term used to address or refer to a man.
Is mistress always negative?
No, mistress can also mean a woman in a position of authority, though it commonly refers to an extramarital affair.
Can mistress refer to a profession?
Historically, yes, as in a female teacher or a woman skilled in an art or profession.
What does mistress mean?
Mistress refers to a woman with authority or a woman involved in an extramarital relationship.
Does mistress imply marital status?
Mistress often implies the woman is in a relationship with a married man, but not always.
Does mister imply marital status?
No, mister does not indicate whether a man is married or single.
Can mistress be used in a positive context?
Yes, when referring to a woman with authority or control, it can be positive.
What is the female equivalent of mister?
The female equivalents are Miss, Ms., or Mrs., depending on marital status and preference.
Is mister a formal title?
Yes, mister is used as a formal or polite address for men.
Is mister used only with surnames?
Generally, yes, mister is typically used with surnames, e.g., Mister Jones.
Can mistress mean the female head of a household?
Yes, mistress can mean the female head of a household.
Is mister an abbreviation?
Yes, mister is an abbreviation of master, used as a title of respect.
Can mistress refer to a woman’s control over a subject?
Yes, it can mean a woman who is highly skilled or knowledgeable in a particular area.
Is mister still relevant in modern language?
Yes, mister is still widely used as a term of respect in modern language.
Is mister commonly used in everyday speech?
Yes, mister is commonly used in polite and formal contexts.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
