ENGLISH
REFERENCE

missus

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈmɪsɪz// UK //mˈɪsəs// mis·sus Informal

n. a polite or friendly way to address a woman, especially a married one. It is an old-fashioned word that people use to be respectful or to sound like they are from a different time.

n. a polite or respectful form of address for a woman, typically a married one. Highly informal and often carries a connotation of traditional or lower-class social status.


SIMPLE

The shopkeeper greeted the customer with a nod and a 'Good morning, missus'.

CONTEXTUAL

In the old photographs, the workers are seen bowing slightly to the missus as she walked through the factory.

COMPLEX

The author uses the term missus to establish the rural, working-class setting of the novel, grounding the dialogue in a specific historical and social context.

Synonyms
Origin

Representing a common pronunciation of Mrs, a reduced form of Mistress.

© 2026 English Reference