Miss is a title, typically used for an unmarried woman. A title is a prefix or suffix added to a persons name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. ... Marriage is a relationship and bond between individuals that plays a key role in the definition of many families. ... Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ...

Miss is a contraction of Mistress, originating during the Victorian era. Its counterpart, Mrs., was used for married women. Mistress is the feminine form of the word master. ... Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her Accession to the Throne, June 20, 1837) gave her name to the historic era. ... Mrs. ...

In some styles of etiquette, the eldest daughter of a family was addressed on paper or in introductions simply as Miss Doe, with the younger daughters being addressed as Miss Jane Rebecca Doe. In spoken address, the title is used with the last name. Etiquette is the code that governs the expectations of social behavior, the conventional norm. ...

In some regions such as the American South, Miss is also traditionally added to a woman's first name in direct or indirect address, as Miss Ilsa. The U.S. Southern states or The South, known during the American Civil War era as Dixie, is a distinctive region of the United States with its own unique historical perspective, customs, musical styles, and cuisine. ...

Miss can be used in direct address to a woman, for example, May I help you, miss? Some women consider this disrespectful and prefer ma'am. In the United Kingdom, Miss is often used to address female teachers without using their name, regardless of marital status. Madam or maam is a title for a woman. ...

Miss was formerly the default title for a businesswoman. It was (and to some extent remains) also a default title for celebrities, such as actresses. (The poet Dorothy Parker was often referred to as Miss Parker, even though Parker was the name of her first husband and she herself preferred Mrs. Parker.) Dorothy Parker (born Dorothy Rothschild) (August 22, 1893 – June 7, 1967) was an American writer and poet best known for her caustic wit, wisecracks, and sharp eye for 20th century urban foibles. ...

Another notable use of Miss is as the title of a beauty queen, such as Miss America, Miss World, or Miss Congeniality. A beauty contest, or beauty pageant, is a competition between people, based largely, though not always entirely, on the beauty of their physical appearance. ... Erika Harold, Miss America 2003, wears the traditional winners tiara. ... Miss World 2004, Maria Julia Mantilla from Peru The Miss World pageant (not to be confused with Miss Universe) is an international beauty pageant founded in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. ... Miss Congeniality is a 2000 comedy movie. ...

Other languages, such as French and Spanish, have borrowed the English Miss to refer to the winner of a beauty pageant.

The use of Miss has declined in popularity to some extent, except in reference to young girls or unmarried women. In the professional world it has been almost entirely replaced by Ms., which does not indicate a woman's marital status. For alternative uses, see Ms Ms. ...

Foreign equivalents of Miss are:

• Spanish Señorita (Srta.)
• French Mademoiselle (Mlle.)
• German Fräulein (Frl.)
• Italian Signorina (Sig.na)
• Portuguese Menina (Mna.) or Senhorita (Srta.)
• Dutch Mejuffrouw (Mej.)
• Swedish Fröken (Frk.)
• Norwegian Fröken (frk.)
• Danish Fröken (Frk.)

See also

• Fräulein