ma’am
noun/mæm/, /mɑːm/
/mæm/
[singular]- (North American English) used as a polite way of addressing a woman
- ‘Can I help you, ma'am?’
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- (British English) used when addressing the Queen or senior women officers in the police or army see also madam
Word Originmid 17th cent.: contraction of madam.
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ma’am