madam

Polite female address

Madam is a formal term of address for a woman, used without her name: Right this way, madam.

It parallels sir for men.

In correspondence, Dear Madam opens letters to unknown female recipients.

Madam also denotes a woman who runs a brothel.

The informal ma'am is a contraction of madam.

title

ma'am

Polite term for women

missusInformal term for spouse
ladyCourteous term for woman
señoraRespectful Spanish title

dona · honorific · address · salutation · formal · respectful · polite · sir · gentlewoman · matron

brothel

bordello

Commercial sex establishment

brothelCommercial sex establishment
whorehouseCommercial sex establishment
prostitutionCommercial sexual services

red-light · courtesan · escort · house · parlor · establishment · procuress · proprietress · vice · trafficking

hospitality

hostess

Female event organizer

greeterOne who welcomes arrivals
proprietressFemale business owner
innkeeperLodging establishment operator

hotelier · concierge · welcoming · gracious · accommodating · service · reception · guests · entertaining · soiree

authority

headmistress

Female school principal

principalChief school administrator
matriarchFemale family leader
governessPrivate household teacher

directress · superintendent · administrator · overseer · chairwoman · manageress · supervisor · stewardess · warden · commander

Categories

Palindromesmom, dad, pop, noon, level
courtly languagehonorifics, titles, sire
gender languagemasculine, feminine, neuter, he, she
honorificssir, Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr
Address typesgreeting, salutation, formal address, title, honorific
Old Westcowboy, cowboys, cowgirl, sheriff, sheriffs

Opposites

gendered formal address

madamsir

Formal male address

mister · gentleman · monsieur · master · señor

social role in brothel context

madamprostitute

One who sells sex

sex worker · john · client · patron · pimp

marital/relational status

Authority or controller

man · husband · bridegroom · lord · hubby

Phrases

dear sir or madam
Madame TussaudsWax sculpture exhibition venue
Madame Bovary
dear madamFormal feminine salutation
Madame ButterflyTragic geisha stage work
Madame Tussaud'sWax figure attraction

Family

madame, madams, madames

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG