headmistress

noun

head·​mis·​tress ˈhed-ˌmi-strəs How to pronounce headmistress (audio)
-ˈmi-
Synonyms of headmistressnext
: a woman heading the staff of a private school

Examples of headmistress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Marilee is headmistress of a private girls’ school in Baltimore where Gail has been assistant head for 11 years. — Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Feb. 2025 Exhausted from filling in as headmistress at her school, Olga tries to hold the fraying family together. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025 In the film, Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Shiz University, keeps her stark white hair in an intricate updo, careful not to let too much of it down. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Nov. 2025 The Robichaux Academy was a pivotal location in the series and an all-girls boarding school for witchcraft, with Paulson’s character serving as the headmistress. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for headmistress

Word History

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of headmistress was in 1730

Rhymes for headmistress

See All Rhymes for headmistress

Browse Nearby Words

head/mind games
headmistress
head money
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Headmistress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headmistress. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

headmistress

noun
head·​mis·​tress -ˌmis-trəs How to pronounce headmistress (audio)
-ˈmis-
: a female head of a private school

More from Merriam-Webster on headmistress

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for headmistress

Nglish: Translation of headmistress for Spanish Speakers

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