sir

[sɜːr]

sir Definition

• 1. a formal or polite way of addressing a man, especially one in a position of authority or who has been knighted
• 2. a title used before the given name or full name of a knight or baronet

Using sir: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "sir" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  Excuse me, sir, do you have the time?

• Example

  Sir John Smith was a famous explorer.

• Example

  May I introduce Sir William Jones?

• Example

  He was knighted and became Sir Thomas Moore.

sir Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for sir

• gentleman
• lord
• master
• mister

Phrases with sir

• yes sir

  an affirmative response to a command or request from someone in authority

  Example

  Yes sir, I will get that report to you by the end of the day.

• sir or madam

  a polite way of addressing someone when you do not know their gender

  Example

  Good afternoon, sir or madam. How may I assist you?

• sir/madam, may I help you?

  a polite way of offering assistance to someone

  Example

  As soon as the customer entered the store, the salesperson greeted them with 'Sir/Madam, may I help you?'

Origins of sir

from Old French 'sire', from Latin 'senior', meaning 'older'

📌

Summary: sir in Brief

The term 'sir' [sɜːr] is a formal and polite way of addressing a man, particularly one in a position of authority or who has been knighted. It can also be used as a title before the given name or full name of a knight or baronet. Examples include 'Excuse me, sir, do you have the time?' and 'May I introduce Sir William Jones?'