Jump to:

• em
  em

  noun

  the letter M, m.
• 'em
  'em

  pronoun

  them.
• Em
  Em

  emanation.
• EM
  EM

  abbreviation

  electromagnetic.
• em-
  em-

  variant of en- before b, p, and sometimes m:
• E.M.
  E.M.

  abbreviation

  Earl Marshal.

em

¹ American  

[em] / ɛm /

noun

plural

ems

1. the letter M, m.

2. Also called mut, mutton.  Printing.

   1. the square of any size of type used as the unit of measurement for matter printed in that type size.

   2. (originally) the portion of a line of type occupied by the letter M in type of the same size.

3. em pica.

---

adjective

1. Printing. having the area of an em quad or the length of an em dash.

'em ² American  

[uhm] / əm /

pronoun

Informal.

1. them.

   Put 'em down there.

---

Em ³ American  

Symbol, Physical Chemistry.

1. emanation.

---

EM ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. electromagnetic.

2. electromotive.

3. electronic mail.

4. electron microscope; electron microscopy.

5. end matched.

6. Engineer of Mines.

7. enlisted man; enlisted men.

---

em- ⁵ American  

1. variant of en- before b, p, and sometimes m:

   embalm.

---

em- ⁶ American  

1. variant of en- before b, m, p, ph:

   embolism, emphasis.

---

E.M. ⁷ American  

abbreviation

1. Earl Marshal.

2. Engineer of Mines.

---

em ¹ British  

/ ɛm /

noun

1. Also called: mutton.   mut.  the square of a body of any size of type, used as a unit of measurement

2. Also called: pica em.   pica.  a unit of measurement used in printing, equal to one sixth of an inch

---

'em ² British  

/ əm /

pronoun

1. an informal variant of them

---

em- ³ British  

prefix

1. before b, m, and p, a variant of en- 1 en- 2

---

Etymology

Origin of em¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Origin of 'em²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English hem, Old English heom, dative and accusative plural of he ¹

Example Sentences

“Let God Sort Em Out” came 16 years after their last release, which had marked the end of the Virginia Beach-born group amid a “come to God” moment for Malice.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

"Everything on telly was BBC," she said, adding that she grew up watching the sitcom Some Mothers Do Ave Em and Doctor Who, which ignited a love of science fiction.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2026

Clipse, the duo of Pusha T and his brother Malice, reunited to release “Let God Sort Em Out,” their first album in more than 15 years, and nabbed five nominations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

After a lengthy delay, the rain eased and play resumed at 31 overs per side, with England posting 133-9 after a useful stand of 47 between Charlie Dean, who top-scored with 33, and Em Arlott.

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025

It was still a little unreal that Em had kissed anyone.

From "Goodbye Stranger" by Rebecca Stead