headmistress

noun

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

Examples of headmistress in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Michelle Yeoh is Madam Morrible Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once) is attached to play Madam Morrible, the headmistress of Shiz University and a manipulative advisor to the Wizard. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 28 Jan. 2024 In Wicked, the filmmaker cast Yeoh as Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Crage Hall at Shiz University, the school where lead characters Elphaba (Erivo, 37) and Glinda (Grande, 30) meet as teens. Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 26 Jan. 2024 The problem is not what the three headmistresses said. Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 23 Dec. 2023 The title tyke of Roald Dahl’s tale is a pint-size rabble-rouser who quickly wins friends at her new elementary school, and then captains a rebellion against the cruel headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, a villain who’s equal parts ice, vinegar and five o’clock shadow. oregonlive, 5 Sep. 2023 This school was once a monastery, its chapel boarded up since being hit by a WW2 bomb that claimed the life of the stern headmistress’ (Suzanne Bertish) son. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 7 Sep. 2023 The local school, where Dave (Mark Addy) serves as caretaker and his wife (Lesley Sharp) as headmistress, is beset by structural damage and ever-stricter budget cuts. Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 June 2023 The shooter fatally wounded three 9-year-olds, a custodian, a substitute teacher and the head headmistress before responding officers killed the 28-year-old attacker, police said. Natalie Obregon, NBC News, 27 Mar. 2023 Yeoh's character is the headmistress of Crage Hall at Shiz University, the school where Elphaba and Glinda meet as teens. Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 16 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'headmistress.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1730, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of headmistress was in 1730

Dictionary Entries Near headmistress

Cite this Entry

“Headmistress.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headmistress. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

headmistress

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

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