Mistress

"Mistress" and its male equivalent "Master" is a title often used in sexual role play to identify the dominant of two partners, usually within the bounds of a dominance and submission relationship. There are several practical and psychological effects associated with using the word.

Often the dominant partner will enforce the use of this term as a rule in order to reinforce the idea respect and as a reminder to where the submissive belongs in the relationship. Depending on the relationship between the dominant and the submissive, the term can be said for endearment, humiliation, or a combination of both.