esquire
Americannoun
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(initial capital letter) an unofficial title of respect, having no precise significance, sometimes placed, especially in its abbreviated form, after a man's surname in formal written address: in the U.S., usually applied to lawyers, women as well as men; in Britain, applied to a commoner considered to have gained the social position of a gentleman. Esq.
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a man belonging to the order of English gentry ranking next below a knight.
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Archaic. squire.
verb (used with object)
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to raise to the rank of esquire.
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to address as “Esquire.”
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to escort or attend in public.
noun
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a title of respect, usually abbreviated Esq, placed after a man's name
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(in medieval times) the attendant and shield bearer of a knight, subsequently often knighted himself
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rare a male escort
Etymology
Origin of esquire
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English esquier, from Middle French escuier, from Latin scūtārius “shield bearer,” from scūt(um) scutum + -ārius -ary
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.
"I am hopeful that we can collectively take the steps required to allow nature to recover with a change in perspective from everyone that recognises the importance of investing in environmental protection," he said.
From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026
More saliently, I skipped many of the steps required for the application.
From Slate • Jan. 16, 2026
"The legal and political steps required by the process ... and the laws of freedom and democratic integration necessary to participate in democratic politics must be put in place without delay," it said.
From Barron's • Oct. 26, 2025
The application filing is one of many steps required to issue the actual warrants.
From Salon • May 20, 2024
In fact, if I had to synthesize my own enzymes, if I consciously had to remember and direct all the chemical steps required to get energy out of food, I would probably starve.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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.
