# headmistress

/ˈhɛdˌmɪstɹəs/ (US) · /hɛdmˈɪstɹəs/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/headmistress
Updated: 2026-10-13

## Definition

a woman who is in charge of a school. She is the most senior teacher and manages the staff and students.

For teachers: a female principal or head teacher of a school. The term is gender-specific and is increasingly replaced by the gender-neutral 'head teacher' or 'principal' in many modern educational systems.

## Examples

- The headmistress gave a speech at the graduation ceremony.
- After twenty years of service, the headmistress retired and was celebrated by generations of former students.
- The headmistress maintained a delicate balance between traditional academic standards and the need for modern technological integration within the curriculum.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in British English and in private or independent school contexts; 'head teacher' is the more frequent gender-neutral alternative.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.