Mrs.
Wife's formal address
Mrs. is a title for a married woman, placed before her name: Mrs. Johnson will see you now.
Traditionally it preceded the husband's full name (Mrs. John Smith), but now typically precedes the woman's own name.
The title derives from mistress but lost that pronunciation centuries ago; it's now said as "missus." Compare Miss for unmarried women and Ms. for either.
Polite term for women
Female marriage partner
matrimony · wedlock · bride · marital · conjugal · newlywed · betrothed · maiden name
Rules of polite conduct
- protocolPrescribed conduct rules
- proprietyCorrectness of conduct
- decorumFitting social conduct
- courtesyRespectful, considerate behavior
address · introduction · correspondence · invitation · announcement · salutation · envelope · proper
Yielding to another's judgment
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
- regardAttentive consideration given
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
dignity · status · seniority · elder · matriarch · authority · household · establishment
ma'am
Polite term for women
wife
Female marriage partner
married · matrimony · wedlock · bride · marital · conjugal · newlywed · betrothed · maiden name · nuptials
etiquette
Rules of polite conduct
courtesy · address · introduction · correspondence · invitation · announcement · salutation · envelope · proper · polite
deference
Yielding to another's judgment
- esteemFavorable opinion of worth
- regardAttentive consideration given
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
recognition · dignity · status · seniority · elder · matriarch · authority · household · establishment