ma'am
Americannoun
Usage
Ma'am is used as a title of respect, especially when addressing female royalty
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
"Yes ma'am, and ICE is dedicated to ensuring that everyone that visits the facilities will have a safe and secure event," replied Lyons.
From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026
“You’re following us, ma’am, we are doing an operation,” the agent says.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 10, 2025
Get out there and get on with your day, ma’am or sir!
From Slate • Jul. 26, 2025
“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
This isn’t a friendly Sorry, ma’am, you can’t pass those out type of warning.
From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson
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.
