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sir
[ sur ]
noun
- a respectful or formal term of address used to a man:
No, sir.
- (initial capital letter) the distinctive title of a knight or baronet:
Sir Walter Scott.
- (initial capital letter) a title of respect for some notable personage of ancient times:
Sir Pandarus of Troy.
- a lord or gentleman:
noble sirs and ladies.
- an ironic or humorous title of respect:
sir critic.
- Archaic. a title of respect used before a noun to designate profession, rank, etc.:
sir priest; sir clerk.
sir
1/ ɜː /
noun
- a formal or polite term of address for a man
- archaic.a gentleman of high social status
Sir
2/ ɜː /
noun
- a title of honour placed before the name of a knight or baronet
Sir Walter Raleigh
- archaic.a title placed before the name of a figure from ancient history
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of sir1
Example Sentences
“Certainly a somewhat sharp crisis in your affairs would appear to have been precipitated, sir.”
“I need to buy your car back, sir, and I’m willing to pay substantially more than you paid for it,” Porter quotes the manager as saying.
Martin batted it right back: “I don’t, sir, but I do know that there are 45,000 in America who die waiting because they don’t have insurance at all.”
Asked by a judge if he had seen and read the indictment, he responded, "Yes, I have sir".
I said, ‘Yes, sir. I will thank you for closing the border.’
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Related Words
More About Sir
is a basic definition of sir?
Sir is a respectful form of address for a man or a term for a gentleman. When capitalized, Sir is used as a title for a knight. The word sir has a few other senses as a noun.
Sir is a respectful term used to address a man. Sir is especially likely to be used to refer to a person of higher rank or authority. In this sense, sir is the male equivalent of madam or ’a.
- Real-life examples: Waiters or other service workers are very likely to use sir when addressing male customers. Members of the military will refer to superior officers as sir or ’a when not using their title or rank. A person may refer to their boss or manager as sir.
- Used in a sentence: The recruits answered the drill sergeant with a loud “Sir, yes, sir!”
Sir can also be used to refer to a gentleman or a lord, especially in a formal setting.
- Used in a sentence: I meant no offense to the good sir or his noble family.
The capitalized Sir indicates that a man is a knight or a baronet.
- Real-life examples: Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain were two of the knights who served the legendary King Arthur. Sir Isaac Newton and Sir Walter Raleigh are famous historical figures who were knighted. Sir Sean Connery, Sir Patrick Stewart, and Sir Ian McKellan are three modern actors who were knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.
- Used in a sentence: Because Gregory had served Great Britain loyally for over 50 years, he was knighted and became Sir Gregory.
Where does sir come from?
The first records of sir come from around 1250. It comes from Middle English and is an unstressed variant of the word sire, another formal term of address for men.
Did you know ... ?
are some other forms related to sir?
- sirs (plural noun)
are some synonyms for sir?
are some words that share a root or word element with sir?
are some words that often get used in discussing sir?
are some words sir may be commonly confused with?
How is sir used in real life?
Sir is a common form of address used for men, especially by people showing respect or formality.
Still doesn’t feel right when younger people call me sir. I keep forgetting I’m almost 30
— gustavo (@gustakko)
My dad told me to keep my hands on the wheel and answer "Yes sir, no sir" if I'm ever pulled over by the police.
Every parent should tell their children that.
— Larry O'Connor (@LarryOConnor)
Sir, competence is embodied in character
— Tripp_in (@tripp___in)
Try using sir!
True or False?
Sir is a formal title that indicates that a man is a captain of a ship.
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