ma'am
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /mæm/
ipa: /mɑːm/
ipa: /mæm/
ipa: [mɛəm]
ipa: [meəm]
rhymes: -æm
rhymes: -ɑːm
Forms: form: ma'ams
form: mum
Etymology: The noun is a contraction of madam, and represents a regional pronunciation of that word in the United Kingdom. The verb is derived from the noun.
Senses: examples: text: Madam me no Madam, but learn to retrench your vvords; and ſay Mam; as yes Mam, and no Mam, as other Ladies VVomen do. Madam! 'tis a year in pronouncing.
ref: 1668 June 22 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), John Dryden, An Evening’s Love, or The Mock-Astrologer. […], In the Savoy [London]: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1671, →OCLC, Act III, page 33:
text: Gad take my Soul, Mame, I hope I ſhall pleaſe you now— […] I vovv to Gad, Mame, I vvas ſo taken up vvith my good Fortune, I did not obſerve the extream Fancy of your Ladiſhip's VVedding-Cloaths— […]
ref: 1697, [John Vanbrugh], “[Part I]”, in Æsop. A Comedy. […], 3rd edition, London: […] Richard Wellington, […], published 1702, →OCLC, Act V, page 45:
text: O yes Mem, I'll vouch any thing for your Ladyſhip's ſervice, be vvhat it vvill.
ref: 1700, [William] Congreve, The Way of the World, a Comedy. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 74:
text: If I, ma'am, can be of the leaſt uſe—
ref: 1765, Samuel Foote, The Commissary. A Comedy […], London: […] P[aul] Vaillant, […], →OCLC, Act I, page 8:
text: "You're very, very kind to me, ma'am," said Oliver.
ref: 1837 August, Boz [pseudonym; Charles Dickens], “In Which Oliver Is Taken Better Care of than He Ever Was Before. With Some Particulars Concerning a Certain Picture.”, in Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy’s Progress. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], published 1838, →OCLC, page 182:
text: You was wrong, mim, and I was right. I thought he wouldn't keep us up so late, two nights running, mim. Master's always considerate so far. I'm so glad, mim, on your account.
ref: 1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge. Chapter 7.”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume II, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 273:
text: [H]e axed if wer stock o' coals was nearly done. I telled him it was, an' we was ill set to get more—but you know mum I didn't think o' him helping us—but howsever, he sent us a sack o' coals next day; […]
ref: 1847 December, Acton Bell [pseudonym; Anne Brontë], “The Cottagers”, in Agnes Grey. […], London: Thomas Cautley Newby, […], →OCLC, page 176:
text: Thank you, ma'am. But, since you do refer to me, now look at me, ma'am. I have put by a little, ma'am, already. That gratuity which I receive at Christmas, ma'am: I never touch it. I don't even go the length of my wages, though they're not high, ma'am. Why can't they do as I have done, ma'am? What one person can do, another can do.
ref: 1854, Charles Dickens, “Effects in the Bank”, in Hard Times. For These Times, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], →OCLC, 2nd book (Reaping), page 140:
text: "A telegruff message, mum, for Mr. William," said the maid, looking at her mistress with eyes opened wide, as she handed the important bit of paper to her master.
ref: 1865 May 15 – 1866 January 1, Anthony Trollope, “William Belton Does Not Go Out Hunting”, in The Belton Estate. […], volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published December 1865 (indicated as 1866), →OCLC, pages 220–221:
text: Very pleased to meet you, Mem. I'm Mr. McCunn from Glasgow.
ref: 1921 August–September, John Buchan, “Of the Princess in the Tower”, in Huntingtower, London: Hodder and Stoughton, published August 1922, →OCLC, page 99:
text: The length of the stoppages could not well be reduced; indeed, they are already too short if we are to believe the tale now current of a wandering Jew sort of passenger—a lady of advanced years who can only alight from a train backwards. Every time she begins to get out a porter rushes up crying "Hurry up, ma'am; train's going!"—and pushes her in again!
ref: 1944 May–June, “When the Circle was Steam Operated”, in The Railway Magazine, London: Tothill Press, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 150:
text: There are no obligatory codes of behaviour when meeting The Queen or a member of the Royal Family, but many people wish to observe the traditional forms. […] On presentation to The Queen, the correct formal address is ‘Your Majesty’ and subsequently ‘Ma’am’, pronounced with a short ‘a’, as in ‘jam’. […] For other female members of the Royal Family the first address is conventionally ‘Your Royal Highness’ and subsequently ‘Ma’am’.
ref: 2024 February 10 (last accessed), “Greeting a Member of The Royal Family”, in Royal.gov.uk, archived from the original on 10 Feb 2024:
text: "What do you say to the 40 percent of California voters, who you'll need in order to win, who voted for (President Donald) Trump?" Watts asked. Then Porter said, "How would I need them in order to win, ma'am?" expressing some level of disapproval with the question while letting out a laugh.
ref: 2025 October 8, Jay Stahl, “Katie Porter goes viral again. This time, for berating a reporter.”, in USA Today:
synonyms: 'm
marm
glosses: A form of address for a woman: contraction of madam.
examples: text: Ma'am, will you be attending the dinner this evening?
glosses: A polite and formal way to address a woman.
examples: text: – Sergeant, have the platoon in formation and ready for inspection at 0800.
– Aye aye, ma'am.
glosses: A respectful term of address to a woman of higher rank or position.
examples: text: That is Ma'am Smith, the matriarch of the Smith families.
text: Yes, my dravving-room is an abſolute regiſter-office for candidate actors, and poets vvithout character;—then to be continually alarmed vvith Miſſes and Ma'ams piping hiſteric changes on Juliets and Dorindas, Pollys and Ophelias; […]
ref: 1781, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Critic: Or A Tragedy Rehearsed […], London: […] T[homas] Becket, […], →OCLC, Act I, scene i, pages 4–5:
synonyms: word: ball and chain
word: better half
word: boss
word: bride
word: dutch
word: 'er indoors
word: frow
word: geezer
word: her indoors
word: lady
word: little woman
word: little lady
word: memsahib
word: missus
word: old lady
word: old woman
word: trouble
word: trouble and strife
word: wife
word: wifekin
word: wifelet
word: wifeling
word: wifey
glosses: A title for a married woman.
synonyms: schoolma'am
glosses: (US, education) A female schoolteacher; a schoolmarm.
Coordinate terms: miss
Miss
mister
Mister
Mr.
mistress
Mistress
Mrs.
Ms.
sir
Sir
Derived terms: word: gori mem
word: grandma'am
word: 'm
word: ma'am sandwich
word: ma'am, this is an Arby's
word: ma'am, this is a Wendy's
word: mamsir
word: marm
word: memsahib
word: no'm
word: schoolma'amish
word: schoolmarmish
word: schoolma'am
word: schoolmarm
word: schoolmarmishly
word: schoolmarmishness
word: schoolmarmy
word: thank-you-ma'am
word: wham, bam, thank you ma'am
word: yas'm
word: yes'm
word: yessum
word: yes ma'am
Related terms: ma'amselle