manstress

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A male equivalent of "mistress"; a male object of one's affections who lies outside of one's primary relationship.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Tom and Nicole had been married for several years, but it was well known that she was keeping a manstress on the side.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “manstress” mean?

A male equivalent of "mistress"; a male object of one's affections who lies outside of one's primary relationship.

Is “manstress” formal or informal?

manstress is generally slang.