mayoress
mayoress Lexical Profile
mayoress Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British The wife of a mayor, or another woman appointed to act as a mayor's ceremonial consort and hostess at civic functions.
"The mayor and the mayoress attended the charity gala to help raise funds for the local hospital."
A woman who holds the elected or appointed office of mayor of a city, town, or borough.
"She made local history in the nineteenth century when she was elected as the town's first mayoress."
Word Nuance & Usage
In contemporary British and Commonwealth usage, a woman elected to the office is almost always styled 'mayor' rather than 'mayoress', while 'mayoress' is reserved for the female consort or ceremonial companion of a mayor.
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the late 15th century, formed in Middle English from 'mayor' (from Old French 'maire', ultimately from Latin 'maior' meaning 'greater') and the feminine suffix '-ess'.