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Synonyms

ma'am

American  
[mam, mahm, muhm] / mæm, mɑm, məm /

noun

  1. madam.

  2. (in Britain) a term used in addressing the queen or a royal princess.

ma'am British  
/ mɑːm, mæm, məm /

noun

  1. short for madam

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

Ma'am is used as a title of respect, especially when addressing female royalty

Etymology

Origin of ma'am

First recorded in 1660–70; by contraction

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Get out there and get on with your day, ma’am or sir!

From Slate • Jul. 26, 2025

At the time, her friends saw no reason to doubt her, with one even jokingly calling her "ma'am" in a WhatsApp message.

From BBC • Oct. 18, 2024

“Move that mic please or just get out the circle please for me, please ma’am, if you’re not subscribed to my pod,” Beverley said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 3, 2024

“No ma’am, I think we still need conversations,” said Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, when asked if she would vote to nominate Jordan.

From Salon • Oct. 17, 2023

‘Those children were taken away almost exactly as you dreamt it, ma’am!’

From "The BFG" by Roald Dahl

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.