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• 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

ems plural

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.

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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.

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Em ³ American  

Symbol, Physical Chemistry.

1. emanation.

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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.

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em- ⁵ American  

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

   embalm.

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em- ⁶ American  

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

   embolism, emphasis.

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E.M. ⁷ American  

abbreviation

1. Earl Marshal.

2. Engineer of Mines.

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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

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'em ² British  

/ əm /

pronoun

1. an informal variant of them

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em- ³ British  

prefix

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

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• ems
  plural

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

As a witness to the New York Mets’ abysmal inaugural season, Casey Stengel once remarked: “Been in this game one hundred years, but I see new ways to lose ’em I never knew existed before.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

"I think let 'em play," Trump said in late April.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

“I had pitches to hit. I just didn’t hit ‘em.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

Roman Abramovich's "hire 'em, fire 'em" strategy inflicted instability on Chelsea, but was also the catalyst for great glory.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

“He can hear fish. So in our hanabata days, he helped ’em proliferate and he always had the best catch, but he not think beyond those kine fish.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila