webmistress: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowNeutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “webmistress” mean?
A woman who creates, manages, and maintains a website.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A woman who creates, manages, and maintains a website.
A female professional responsible for designing, developing, updating, and administering a website, often in a role analogous to that of a webmaster.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition. Both varieties use the term.
Connotations
Slightly dated in both varieties. The term can be seen as an attempt at gender-specific language that has fallen out of favour.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage in both varieties. 'Webmaster' or specific job titles (e.g., 'web developer', 'content manager') are vastly more common.
Grammar
How to Use “webmistress” in a Sentence
[webmistress] + of + [website/organisation][webmistress] + for + [website/organisation][webmistress] + at + [organisation]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used in modern job titles or descriptions; considered dated.
Academic
Might appear in historical analyses of internet culture or gender studies.
Everyday
Very unlikely to be encountered.
Technical
Largely obsolete; specific technical roles (front-end developer, sysadmin) are preferred.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “webmistress”
- Using it as a current, standard job title. Confusing it with 'web designer' (a subset of the role).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered dated. Modern job titles are more specific (e.g., Front-End Developer, UX Designer, Content Manager) or use the gender-neutral 'webmaster' or 'website manager'.
The direct male equivalent is 'webmaster'. However, 'webmaster' itself is often used in a gender-neutral way.
It is not generally offensive but can be perceived as old-fashioned or unnecessarily gendered. Using a person's specific job title or 'webmaster' is usually preferred.
No, 'webmistress' is exclusively a noun. There is no standard verb form derived from it.
A woman who creates, manages, and maintains a website.
Webmistress is usually neutral to formal in register.
Webmistress: in British English it is pronounced /ˈweb.mɪs.trəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈweb.mɪs.trəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to the word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Mistress of the Web' — a woman in charge of a website's domain.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FEMALE AUTHORITY FIGURE/CUSTODIAN (The webmistress rules over her digital domain.)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST accurate statement about the word 'webmistress'?