[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/missus/)

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# missus

noun (the missus, a missus)

«missus» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (informal, UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ) A man's way of talking about his wife or partner: the missus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/missus/#m1)
2. (informal, UK) A way to address a woman you don't know, especially in old-fashioned or working-class speech: «Need a hand, missus?» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/missus/#m2)
3. (informal) Mrs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/missus/#m3)
4. The mistress of a house, the woman in charge of a home where someone works, as used in old-fashioned speech. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/missus/#m4)

### In the lessons

Heard in everyday British, Irish and Australian talk and in stories: «I'll have to ask the missus». It is friendly but casual; some women find it old-fashioned or rude. Phrases: the missus, me missus (slang).

### Examples

- «I'd better get home to the missus,» said Uncle Pete. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/missus/#x1)
- «Morning, missus!» called the milkman. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/missus/#x2)
- The missus and I are going on holiday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/missus/#x3)
- «Ask the missus if she wants a cup of tea.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/missus/#x4)
- «You dropped your glove, missus.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/missus/#x5)
- Grandad still calls Gran «the missus». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/missus/#x6)
- "By virtue of my three feathers may the copper be lit, and the clothes washed, and mangled, and folded, and put away to the missus's satisfaction." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/missus/#x7)

### Note

Informal; not used in formal writing — say «wife» or «Mrs». Also spelled «missis». Usually with «the»: «the missus». Comes from «mistress». Some people find it disrespectful.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «missus» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/missus/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«missus» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/missus.html) on Mova free.