DictionaryAI

sir

SaySUR/sɝ/UK/sɜː(ɹ)/

Pluralsirs

Verbsirs, sirring, sirred

4 meanings of sir

Practice

  1. 1
    polite addressnoun
    A polite or respectful way of addressing a man, especially one whose name is unknown or who holds a higher rank or position.

    "Excuse me, sir, you left your umbrella on the counter," the cashier called after the customer.

    The young doorman held the door and murmured a quiet 'sir' to each man who walked in.

    UsageUsually stands alone, often at the start or end: Excuse me, sir; Yes, sir. With a surname, use Mr instead.

    Note

    With strangers it does the work a name would do, which is why it fits naturally into asking directions. In British schools it is how pupils address a male teacher, as in May I leave the room, sir? Set in the middle of a sentence, it can also become a rhetorical stress, as in the Star Trek episode I, Mudd (1967): "Knowledge, sir, should be free to all!" Politeness turns into emphasis there, often with an edge of challenge toward the listener.

    Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

  2. 2
    knight's titlenoun
    A title of respect placed before the name of a knight or baronet.

    Guests at the banquet rose as Sir Reginald entered the hall.

    The letter was addressed to Sir Anthony at his country estate.

    UsageGoes before the first name, with or without the surname: Sir Walter or Sir Walter Scott (not incorrect: Sir Scott).

    Oppositedame

  3. 3
    call by titleverbcolloquialtransitive
    To address someone by calling them 'sir'.

    Please don't sir me; my friends just use my first name.

    The nervous clerk sirred the customer twice in a single sentence.

    UsageMostly heard in protest: Don't sir me. The r doubles in sirring and sirred.

    Note

    A verb made from the address and usually met in protest: Don't sir me. Agent K snaps it in Ed Solomon's Men in Black (1997). The barracks version adds the punchline "I work for a living!", a sergeant's jab that the title belongs to officers, who in his view do not work.

    Checked 3 Nov 2026 · 6 facts

    • The verb means to address someone using the title 'sir'. en.wiktionary.org
    • Agent K says 'Don't sir me' in Men in Black. imsdb.com
    • Ed Solomon wrote the screenplay for Men in Black. imsdb.com
    • Men in Black was released in 1997. en.wikipedia.org
    • The military version adds 'I work for a living!' en.wiktionary.org
    • A sergeant's use of this joke distinguishes enlisted personnel from officers addressed as 'sir', implying that officers do not work. wiu.edu

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    nounarchaiccountable
    A man who is above someone else in a hierarchy.

    Similarmaster, lord

    Note

    Behind the word stands age, not rank. Middle English sir was the unstressed form of sire, borrowed from Old French sire, "master, lord". That came from Latin senior, "older", from senex, "old", so authority grew out of seniority. The same Latin root gives seigneur, señor, signore and senior itself, all doublets of this word. Most of its life, though, is spent as the respectful address.

    Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 4 facts

    • Middle English sir was an unstressed form of sire. en.wiktionary.org
    • Sire was borrowed from Old French sire, meaning master or lord. en.wiktionary.org
    • The ultimate meanings concern age: Latin senior means older and is the comparative of senex, old. en.wiktionary.org
    • Seigneur, señor, signore and senior share this origin and are doublets of sir. en.wiktionary.org

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of sir apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Latin senex ("old") gave senior ("older, elder"), which became Old French sire ("master, sir, lord"). Middle English borrowed sire, and sir developed as its unstressed form. Seigneur, senior, and señor are among its doublets.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 5 facts