Master vs. Mistress — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 18, 2023
Master often denotes a male with authority or expertise, while Mistress generally refers to a female in a position of authority or a side relationship.
Difference Between Master and Mistress
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
The English language possesses a range of terms that differentiate based on gender, among which are Master and Mistress. Master is traditionally used to describe a male figure who possesses authority, expertise, or ownership. In contrast, Mistress often signifies a female with authority or, in some contexts, a woman involved in a relationship with a man outside his marriage.
Historical contexts give us a clear picture of how these terms have been used. In olden days, Master was used to address or refer to the male head of a household, while Mistress was the title for his female counterpart. Both words reflected the gender roles of the times, where men were seen as leaders and women as secondary figures.
In the realm of expertise or skill, Master denotes someone, typically male, who has achieved a high level of expertise, as seen in terms like "master craftsman." Mistress, on the other hand, has not been as widely used in this context, and when used, it's to denote a woman with similar authority or skill.
The modern usage of Mistress has shifted somewhat, often connoting a woman in a relationship with a married man, which can carry negative implications. Master, in contemporary contexts, still broadly pertains to authority and expertise without such relational connotations.
In summary, while Master and Mistress have roots in gendered authority, their modern connotations have diverged, with Master retaining its focus on authority and expertise, and Mistress acquiring additional, sometimes controversial, meanings.
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Comparison Chart
Gender Association
Generally male.
Generally female.
Historical Context
Male head of a household.
Female head of a household or female authority.
Realm of Expertise
Signifies high level of expertise (e.g., craftsman)
Less commonly used for expertise.
Modern Relational Use
Lacks romantic or extramarital connotations.
Often denotes a woman in a relationship with a married man.
Primary Connotation
Authority, expertise.
Authority, but can also imply a side relationship.
Compare with Definitions
Master
A male who has authority or control.
The dog obeyed its Master without hesitation.
Mistress
A woman in a position of authority, control, or ownership.
The cat's Mistress called her home.
Master
The male head of a household.
The Master of the house welcomed the guests warmly.
Mistress
A female teacher or trainer.
The Mistress of the academy was strict but fair.
Master
The owner or keeper of an animal
The dog ran toward its master.
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).
Master
The owner of a slave.
Mistress
A woman who owns or keeps an animal
A cat sitting in its mistress's lap.
Master
One who has control over or ownership of something
The master of a large tea plantation.
Mistress
A woman who owns a slave.
Master
An employer.
Mistress
A woman with ultimate control over something
The mistress of her own mind.
Master
The man who serves as the head of a household.
Mistress
A nation or country that has supremacy over others
Great Britain, once the mistress of the seas.
Master
One who defeats another; a victor
I had to admit that I had met my master and so conceded the game.
Mistress
Something personified as female that directs or reigns
"my mistress ... the open road" (Robert Louis Stevenson).
Master
One who acts out the role of the dominating partner in a sadomasochistic relationship.
Mistress
A woman who has mastered a skill or branch of learning
A mistress of the culinary art.
Master
The captain of a merchant ship. Also called master mariner.
Mistress
Mistress Used formerly as a courtesy title when speaking to or of a woman.
Master
One whose teachings or doctrines are accepted by followers.
Mistress
Chiefly British A woman schoolteacher.
Master
Master(Christianity) Jesus.
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.
Master
A male teacher, schoolmaster, or tutor.
Mistress
A female teacher
Male equivalent: master
Games mistress
Master
One who holds a master's degree.
Mistress
A dominatrix
Male equivalent: master
Master
An artist or performer of great and exemplary skill.
Mistress
A woman well skilled in anything, or having the mastery over it
Master
An old master.
Mistress
A woman regarded with love and devotion; a sweetheart
Master
A worker qualified to teach apprentices and carry on the craft independently.
Mistress
(Scotland) A married woman; a wife
Master
An expert
A master of three languages.
Mistress
(obsolete) The jack in the game of bowls
Master
Used formerly as a title for a man holding a naval office ranking next below a lieutenant on a warship.
Mistress
A female companion to a master a man with control, authority or ownership
Master
Used as a title for a man who serves as the head or presiding officer of certain societies, clubs, orders, or institutions.
Mistress
Female equivalent of master
Master
Master Used as a title for any of various male officers having specified duties concerning the management of the British royal household.
Mistress
Female equivalent of mister
Master
Master Used as a courtesy title before the given or full name of a boy not considered old enough to be addressed as Mister.
Mistress
Of a woman: to master; to learn or develop to a high degree of proficiency.
Master
(Archaic) Used as a form of address for a man; mister.
Mistress
(intransitive) To act or take the role of a mistress.
Master
One who is appointed to assist a court in the performance of certain legal functions, such as the taking of testimony and calculating damages in complex litigation. Also called special master.
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!
Master
Master A man who owns a pack of hounds or is the chief officer of a hunt.
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.
Master
An original, such as an original document or audio recording, from which copies can be made.
Mistress
A woman regarded with love and devotion; she who has command over one's heart; a beloved object; a sweetheart.
Master
Of, relating to, or characteristic of a master.
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).
Master
Principal or predominant
A master plot.
Mistress
A married woman; a wife.
Several of the neighboring mistresses had assembled to witness the event of this memorable evening.
Master
Controlling all other parts of a mechanism
A master switch.
Mistress
The old name of the jack at bowls.
Master
Highly skilled or proficient
A master thief.
Mistress
To wait upon a mistress; to be courting.
Master
Being an original from which copies are made.
Mistress
A woman schoolteacher (especially one regarded as strict)
Master
To become very skilled in or knowledgeable about
Mastered the language in a year's study.
Mistress
A woman master who directs the work of others
Master
To overcome or defeat
He finally mastered his addiction to drugs.
Mistress
The female head of a household.
The Mistress of the manor oversaw the daily tasks.
Master
To produce a master copy of (an audio or video recording, for example).
Mistress
A woman having an extramarital relationship with a married man.
He introduced his Mistress to his close friends.
Master
Someone who has control over something or someone.
Mistress
A female owner of a pet.
The parrot spoke whenever its Mistress was near.
Master
The owner of an animal or slave.
Master
(nautical) The captain of a merchant ship; a master mariner.
Master
(dated) The head of a household.
Master
Someone who employs others.
Master
An expert at something.
Mark Twain was a master of fiction.
Master
A tradesman who is qualified to teach apprentices.
Master
(dated) A schoolmaster.
Master
A skilled artist.
Master
(dated) A man or a boy; mister. See Master.
Master
A master's degree; a type of postgraduate degree, usually undertaken after a bachelor degree.
She has a master in psychology.
Master
A person holding such a degree.
He is a master of marine biology.
Master
The original of a document or of a recording.
The band couldn't find the master, so they re-recorded their tracks.
Master
(film) The primary wide shot of a scene, into which the closeups will be edited later.
Master
(legal) A parajudicial officer (such as a referee, an auditor, an examiner, or an assessor) specially appointed to help a court with its proceedings.
The case was tried by a master, who concluded that the plaintiffs were the equitable owners of the property....
Master
A device that is controlling other devices or is an authoritative source.
A master wheel
A master database
Master
(freemasonry) A person holding an office of authority, especially the presiding officer.
Master
(by extension) A person holding a similar office in other civic societies.
Master
(BDSM) A male dominant.
Master
A vessel having a specified number of masts.
A two-master
Master
Masterful.
A master performance
Master
Main, principal or predominant.
Master
Highly skilled.
Master batsman
Master
Original.
Master copy
Master
(intransitive) To be a master.highly ambiguous, master in what sense?
Master
(transitive) To become the master of; to subject to one's will, control, or authority; to conquer; to overpower; to subdue.
Master
(transitive) To learn to a high degree of proficiency.
It took her years to master the art of needlecraft.
Master
To own; to possess.
Master
To make a master copy of.
Master
To earn a Master's degree.
He mastered in English at the state college.
Master
A vessel having (so many) masts; - used only in compounds; as, a two-master.
Master
A male person having another living being so far subject to his will, that he can, in the main, control his or its actions; - formerly used with much more extensive application than now.
Master
One who uses, or controls at will, anything inanimate; as, to be master of one's time.
Master of a hundred thousand drachms.
We are masters of the sea.
Master
One who has attained great skill in the use or application of anything; as, a master of oratorical art.
Great masters of ridicule.
No care is taken to improve young men in their own language, that they may thoroughly understand and be masters of it.
Master
A title given by courtesy, now commonly pronounced mĭster, except when given to boys; - sometimes written Mister, but usually abbreviated to Mr.
Master
A young gentleman; a lad, or small boy.
Where there are little masters and misses in a house, they are impediments to the diversions of the servants.
Master
The commander of a merchant vessel; - usually called captain. Also, a commissioned officer in the navy ranking next above ensign and below lieutenant; formerly, an officer on a man-of-war who had immediate charge, under the commander, of sailing the vessel.
Master
A person holding an office of authority among the Freemasons, esp. the presiding officer; also, a person holding a similar office in other civic societies.
Throughout the city by the master gate.
Master
To become the master of; to subject to one's will, control, or authority; to conquer; to overpower; to subdue.
Obstinacy and willful neglects must be mastered, even though it cost blows.
Master
To gain the command of, so as to understand or apply; to become an adept in; as, to master a science.
Master
To own; to posses.
The wealthThat the world masters.
Master
To be skillful; to excel.
Master
An artist of consummate skill;
A master of the violin
One of the old masters
Master
A person who has general authority over others
Master
A combatant who is able to defeat rivals
Master
Directs the work of other
Master
Presiding officer of a school
Master
An original creation (i.e., an audio recording) from which copies can be made
Master
An officer who is licensed to command a merchant ship
Master
Someone who holds a master's degree from academic institution
Master
An authority qualified to teach apprentices
Master
Key that secures entrance everywhere
Master
Be or become completely proficient or skilled in;
She mastered Japanese in less than two years
Master
Get on top of; deal with successfully;
He overcame his shyness
Master
Have dominance or the power to defeat over;
Her pain completely mastered her
The methods can master the problems
Master
Have a firm understanding or knowledge of; be on top of;
Do you control these data?
Master
Someone skilled to a high degree in a specific field.
He is a Master of classical guitar.
Master
A title given, especially in academic contexts.
He received his Master's degree in History.
Master
A person who owns a pet or slave.
The cat seemed to consider itself the Master of the household.
Common Curiosities
Is Mistress always negative when referring to relationships?
Often, it implies a relationship with a married man, which can have negative connotations.
Is "headmaster" gender-specific?
Historically, yes, but now it can be used for any gender, though "headmistress" exists for females.
Is "master bedroom" gendered?
The term itself isn't gender-specific; it denotes the largest bedroom.
Are Master and Mistress outdated terms?
In some contexts, like "head of household," they might be, but they're still in use.
Can Master be used for females?
It's less common, but in contexts like "master of an art," it can be gender-neutral.
Are there other words to avoid the gender specificity of Mistress?
Depending on context, "partner" or "significant other" might be more neutral.
Are Master and Mistress strict male and female equivalents?
Traditionally, yes, but Mistress has additional modern connotations, such as a side relationship.
How should I address a female teacher: Master or Mistress?
Neither. It's best to use "Ms." or "Mrs." followed by the last name.
Why might Mistress be seen as controversial?
Because of its connotation referring to a woman in an extramarital relationship.
Can Master and Mistress both refer to expertise?
Yes, but Master is more commonly used in this context.
Does "headmistress" always denote a school principal?
Mostly, but context is essential as Mistress can have other meanings.
Can Mistress denote ownership?
Yes, like a female owner of a pet.
Is Master a title like "Mr."?
Not in modern times, but historically, young boys might be addressed as "Master."
Can both terms be titles?
Yes. Master can be academic or professional, while Mistress can denote authority.
Should I be careful using Mistress in conversation?
Given its various meanings, it's wise to ensure clarity and consider the context.
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Written 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.
