{{short description|Honorific for men}} {{Use British English|date=October 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} {{redirect2|Mister|Mr|other uses|Mister (disambiguation)|and|MR (disambiguation)}} {{Refimprove|date=January 2022}} '''''Mister''''', usually written in its contracted form '''''Mr.''''' (American English) or '''''Mr''''' (British English),<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Definition of Mr. |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mr. |access-date=26 March 2025|website=merriam-webster.com}}</ref> is a commonly used English honorific for men without a higher honorific, or professional title, or any of various designations of office.<ref name=mroed>{{Cite OED|Mr|id=123114}}</ref> The title ''Mr'' derived from earlier forms of ''master'', as the equivalent female titles ''Mrs'', ''Miss'', and ''Ms'' all derived from earlier forms of ''mistress''. ''Master'' is sometimes still used as an honorific for boys and young men.
{{anchor|Messrs}} The plural form is '''''Messrs'''''(.),{{refn|group=note|Pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɛ|s|ər|z}} in English,<ref name=MessrsTheOED/><ref>Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/messrs. "Messrs."] Merriam-Webster (Springfield, 2015.</ref> and {{IPA|fr|mesjø|}} in French.<ref name=MessrsTheOED>{{Cite OED|Messrs.|id=235069}}</ref> The French, however, do not abbreviate ''messieurs'' as ''Messrs'' but as ''MM''. In India, one often finds ''messieurs'' abbreviated as ''M/S'' or ''M/s'', especially as a prefix to the name of a firm.<ref>Sengupta, Sailesh. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=_Y5-ohfm7JcC&pg=PA278 Business and Managerial Communication]'', p. 278 (PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd., 2011).</ref>}} derived from the French title ''{{lang|fr|messieurs}}'' in the 18th century.<ref name=MessrsTheOED/> ''{{lang|fr|Messieurs}}'' is the plural of ''{{lang|fr|monsieur}}'' (originally ''{{lang|fr|mon sieur}}'', "my lord"), formed by declining both of its constituent parts separately.<ref name=mluds>{{Cite OED|messieurs|id=117121}}</ref>
== Historical etiquette ==
Historically, ''mister'' was applied only to those above one's own status if they had no higher title such as ''Sir'' or ''my lord'' in the English class system. That understanding is now obsolete, as it was gradually expanded as a mark of respect to those of equal status and then to all men without a higher style.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}
In the 19th century and earlier in Britain, two gradations of "gentleman" were recognised; the higher was entitled to use "esquire" (usually abbreviated to Esq, which followed the name), and the lower employed "Mr" before the name. Today, on correspondence from Buckingham Palace, a man who is a UK citizen is addressed with post-nominal "Esq.", and a man of foreign nationality is addressed with prefix "Mr".{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}
In past centuries, ''Mr'' was used with a first name to distinguish among family members who might otherwise be confused in conversation: ''Mr Doe'' would be the eldest present; younger brothers or cousins were then referred to as ''Mr Richard Doe'' and ''Mr William Doe'' and so on. Such usage survived longer in family-owned business or when domestic servants were referring to adult male family members with the same surname: "Mr Robert and Mr Richard will be out this evening, but Mr Edward is dining in." In other circumstances, similar usage to indicate respect combined with familiarity is common in most anglophone cultures, including that of the southern United States.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}
== Professional titles ==
''Mr'' is sometimes combined with certain titles (''Mr President'', ''Mr Speaker'', ''Mr Justice'', ''Mr Dean''). The feminine equivalent is usually ''Madam'' although ''Mrs'' is also used in some contexts. All of these except ''Mr Justice'' are used in direct address and without the name. In certain professional contexts in different regions, ''Mr'' has specific meanings; the following are some examples.
===Medicine=== In the United Kingdom, Ireland and in some Commonwealth countries (such as South Africa, New Zealand and some states of Australia), many surgeons use the title ''Mr'' (or ''Miss'', ''Ms'', ''Mrs'', as appropriate), rather than ''Dr'' (Doctor). Until the 19th century, earning a medical degree was not required to become a surgeon. Hence, the modern practice of reverting from ''Dr'' to ''Mr'' after successfully completing qualifying exams in surgery (e.g., Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons or the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons) is a historical reference to the origins of surgery in the United Kingdom as non-medically qualified barber surgeons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qualifications of a Surgeon |author= |work=Royal College of Surgeons |date=n.d. |access-date=6 January 2022 |url= https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/patient-care/surgical-staff-and-regulation/qualifications-of-a-surgeon/#Why}}</ref>
=== Military usage ===
In the United States Army, male warrant officers are addressed as "Mister", while female warrant officers are addressed as "Miss" or "Missus", as appropriate.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bonn |first=Keith E. |date=2005 |title=Army Officer's Guide |location=Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania |publisher=Stockpole Books |edition=50 |page=16 |isbn=978-0-8117-3224-6}}</ref> In the US Navy, it was once customary to address commissioned officers below the rank of commander (O-5) as "Mister"; this practice ended in 1973 after an update of the Navy Regulations, which standardised addressing all officers by rank.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mack |first1=William P. |last2=Paulsen |first2=Thomas D. |date=1991 |title=The Naval Officer's Guide |edition=10 |url=https://archive.org/details/navalofficersgui0000mack/page/138/mode/2up/ |location=Annapolis, Maryland |publisher=Naval Institute Press |page=139 |isbn=0-87021-296-6 |quote=In official spoken communications, officers will be addressed by their grade (as distinct from the custom prior to 1973, when officers...below commander were called 'mister.'}}</ref>
In the British Armed Forces, a male warrant officer is addressed as ''Sir'' by other ranks and non-commissioned officers; commissioned officers, particularly of junior rank, should address a warrant officer using ''Mister'' and his surname, although often their rank or appointment is used, for example "Sergeant Major", "Regimental Sergeant Major", or "RSM".
In the British Armed Forces a subaltern is often referred to by his surname and the prefix ''Mister'' by both other ranks and more senior commissioned officers, e.g. "Report to Mister Smythe-Jones" rather than "Report to 2nd Lieutenant Smythe-Jones".
=== Judges ===
In the courts of England and Wales, Judges of the High Court are called, for example, ''Mr Justice Crane'' unless they are entitled to be addressed as ''Lord Justice''. Where a forename is necessary to avoid ambiguity it is always used, for example ''Mr Justice Robert Goff'' to distinguish from a predecessor ''Mr Justice Goff''. The female equivalent is ''Mrs Justice Hallett'', not ''Madam Justice Hallett''. When more than one judge is sitting and there is need to be specific, the form of address is ''My Lord, Mr Justice Crane''. High Court Judges are entitled to be styled with the prefix ''The Honourable'' while holding office: e.g., the Honourable Mr Justice Robert Goff. In writing, such as in the law reports, the titles "Mr Justice" or "Mrs Justice" are both abbreviated to a "J" placed after the name. For example, ''Crane J'' would be substituted for ''Mr Justice Crane''.<ref>{{cite book |author=Sutherland, Douglas |title=The English Gentleman |publisher=Debrett's Peerage Ltd. |year=1978 |isbn=0-905649-18-4}}</ref> Female judges are still properly addressed "My Lord", but "My Lady" is acceptable in modern usage.{{Citation needed|date=November 2019}}
The Chief Justice of the United States may be referred to as either "Mr Chief Justice", or "Chief Justice". For example, "Mr Chief Justice Roberts" or "Chief Justice Roberts".{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}
=== Catholic clerics ===
Among Catholic clergy, "Mr" is the correct honorific and form of address for seminarians and other students for the priesthood. It was once the proper title for all secular clergy, including parish priests, the use of the title "Father" being reserved to religious clergy ("regulars"){{refn|group=note|Religious or regular clergy belong to institutes of religion and so follow the rule of the order, and lead a life in community. Secular clergy are ordained, but do not live by a rule or lead a life "in common".}} only.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bevak |first1=Jon-Paul |title=Father's Column - July 2022 |url=https://www.cincinnatioratory.com/fathers-column-july-2022/ |website=The Cincinnati Oratory |access-date=1 February 2023 |date=1 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Keefe |first1=Kate |title=Addressing a priest as 'father' when he is so much younger than you are |url=https://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/1/2139/addressing-a-priest-as-father-when-he-is-so-much-younger-than-you-are |access-date=1 February 2023 |work=The Tablet |date=8 August 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The use of the title "Father" for parish clergy became customary around the 1820s.
A diocesan seminarian is correctly addressed as "Mr", and once ordained a transitional deacon, is addressed in formal correspondence (though rarely in conversation) as the Reverend Mister (or "Rev. Mr"). In clerical religious institutes (those primarily made up of priests), Mr is the title given to scholastics. For instance, in the Jesuits, a man preparing for priesthood who has completed the novitiate but who is not yet ordained is properly, "Mr John Smith, SJ" and is addressed verbally as "Mister Smith"—this is to distinguish him from Jesuit brothers, and priests (although, before the 1820s, many Jesuit priests were also called "Mr"). Orders founded before the 16th century do not, as a rule, follow this practice: a Franciscan or Dominican, for instance, becomes a friar after novitiate and so is properly titled "Brother" or, if a priest, "Father".
Permanent deacons in the United States are styled as "Deacon" or "the Reverend Deacon" followed by their first and last names (e.g. "Deacon John Jones", rather than "the Reverend Mr").<ref>USCCB, National Directory for the Formation, Ministry and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States §88. Washington: 2005.</ref> It is also customary in some places, especially in the Eastern Catholic Churches, to address deacons while speaking, like presbyters, as "Father" or "Father Deacon".
==Other usages== * "Mister" can also be used in combination with another word to refer to someone who is regarded as the personification of, or master of, a particular field or subject, especially in the fields of popular entertainment and sports.{{Clarify|date=January 2022}} * In Italian football, deference to a coach is shown by players, staff and fans referring to him as "Il Mister," or directly, "Mister". This is traditionally attributed to the conversion of the local game of ''calcio'' to English-rules association football by British sailors, who would have been the first coaches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fourfourtwo.com/travel/italy/a-zofitalianfootball/default.aspx |title=A–Z of Italian Football |work=fourfourtwo.com |access-date=6 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929142745/http://fourfourtwo.com/travel/italy/a-zofitalianfootball/default.aspx |archive-date=29 September 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *In the old Dutch title system the title "Mr" is used for a Master of Laws (LLM).
==See also== * Milord * Slavic honorifics * Sensei * Shri
==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}
==References== {{Reflist|2}} {{Social titles}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Men's social titles Category:Honorifics