Lady vs. Mistress — What's the Difference?

The word lady is a term of respect for a girl or woman, the equivalent of gentleman. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the female equivalent of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman.

A woman who has a continuing sexual relationship with a man who is married to someone else.

A woman of high social standing or refinement, especially when viewed as dignified or well-mannered.

A woman in a position of authority, control, or ownership, as the head of a household

A woman who is the head of a household

A woman who owns or keeps an animal

A woman, especially when spoken of or to in a polite way

A woman who owns a slave.

Used as a form of address for a woman, often with sarcasm or irritation

A woman with ultimate control over something

A woman who is the object of romantic or chivalrous love

A nation or country that has supremacy over others

(Informal) A wife or girlfriend

Something personified as female that directs or reigns

A lady in waiting

A woman who has mastered a skill or branch of learning

A general feminine title of nobility and other rank, specifically as the title for the wife or widow of a knight or baronet.

Mistress Used formerly as a courtesy title when speaking to or of a woman.

Used as a form of address for a woman of high rank, especially for a marchioness, countess, viscountess, baroness, or baronetess.

Chiefly British A woman schoolteacher.

Lady The Virgin Mary. Usually used with Our.

A woman, specifically one with great control, authority or ownership

(historical) The mistress of a household.

A female teacher

A woman of breeding or higher class, a woman of authority.

The other woman in an extramarital relationship, generally including sexual relations

The feminine of lord.

A dominatrix

A title for someone married to a lord or gentleman.

A woman well skilled in anything, or having the mastery over it

A title that can be used instead of the formal terms of marchioness, countess, viscountess, or baroness.

A woman regarded with love and devotion; a sweetheart

A woman: an adult female human.

(Scotland) A married woman; a wife

(in the plural) A polite reference or form of address to women.

(obsolete) The jack in the game of bowls

(slang) Used to address a female.

A female companion to a master a man with control, authority or ownership

(ladies' or ladies) Toilets intended for use by women.

Female equivalent of master

(informal) A wife or girlfriend; a sweetheart.

Female equivalent of mister

A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman to whom one is devoted or bound.

Of a woman: to master; to learn or develop to a high degree of proficiency.

(slang) A queen the playing card.

(intransitive) To act or take the role of a mistress.

Who is a woman.

A woman having power, authority, or ownership; a woman who exercises authority, is chief, etc.; the female head of a family, a school, etc.

(Wicca) Lady.

A woman well skilled in anything, or having the mastery over it.

(archaic) gastric mill, the triturating apparatus in the stomach of a lobster, consisting of calcareous plates; so called from a fancied resemblance to a seated female figure.

A woman regarded with love and devotion; she who has command over one's heart; a beloved object; a sweetheart.

A five-pound note. (Rhyming slang, Lady Godiva for fiver.)

A woman filling the place, but without the rights, of a wife; a woman having an ongoing usually exclusive sexual relationship with a man, who may provide her with financial support in return; a concubine; a loose woman with whom one consorts habitually; as, both his wife and his mistress attended his funeral.

A woman’s breast.

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.

A queen.

A married woman; a wife.

To address as “lady”.

The old name of the jack at bowls.

A woman who looks after the domestic affairs of a family; a mistress; the female head of a household.

To wait upon a mistress; to be courting.

A woman having proprietary rights or authority; mistress; - a feminine correlative of lord.

An adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

A woman to whom the particular homage of a knight was paid; a woman to whom one is devoted or bound; a sweetheart.

A woman schoolteacher (especially one regarded as strict)

A woman of social distinction or position. In England, a title prefixed to the name of any woman whose husband is not of lower rank than a baron, or whose father was a nobleman not lower than an earl. The wife of a baronet or knight has the title of Lady by courtesy, but not by right.

A woman master who directs the work of others

A woman of refined or gentle manners; a well-bred woman; - the feminine correlative of gentleman.

A wife; - not now in approved usage.

Any woman; as, a lounge for ladies; a cleaning lady; also used in combination; as, saleslady.

The triturating apparatus in the stomach of a lobster; - so called from a fancied resemblance to a seated female figure. It consists of calcareous plates.

Belonging or becoming to a lady; ladylike.

A polite name for any woman;

A woman of refinement;

A woman of the peerage in Britain