mistress
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a woman who has a long-term sexual relationship with a man who is married to someone else.
a woman who is involved in a long-term sexual relationship with a married man. The term implies a degree of financial or emotional support from the man.
Simple“The king's mistress lived in a private house near the palace.”
In context“Historical accounts suggest that the king's mistress exerted significant political influence over the court despite having no official title.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
a woman who is in charge of a place, a household, or a group of people.
a woman who has power, authority, or ownership, particularly as the head of a household or institution.
Simple“She was the mistress of a large estate with many servants.”
In context“As the mistress of the house, she was responsible for managing the domestic staff and overseeing the annual budget.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
a woman who is very skilled or talented at a particular activity.
a woman who has achieved a high degree of proficiency or mastery in a specific craft, art, or field of study.
Simple“She was a mistress of the violin and played in the national orchestra.”
In context“The author proved herself a mistress of suspense, keeping readers guessing until the final chapter of the novel.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
a title used in the past for a woman, which later became the short form 'Mrs'.
an archaic title of address for a woman of social standing, now surviving primarily in the abbreviated form 'Mrs'.
Simple“In the old story, the character is addressed as Mistress Page.”
In context“The document, dated 1640, refers to the landowner as Mistress Elizabeth Thornton.”
“He went to great lengths to conceal her because, even though many men had mistresses, it wasn’t something that gentlemen broadcast in polite society.”