noun
Uncommon
mister
MIHS-tuh
Mister (noun) means a title of respect used before a man's name, usually written "Mr.". Example: “Good afternoon, Mister Johnson.”
noun
1
A title of respect used before a man's name, usually written "Mr."
"This is Mister James Smith, assistant to the President."
"Will Mister Robert be staying for dinner?"
"Good afternoon, Mister Johnson."
"Please send the parcel to Mister Patel at the address on the form."
"The teacher asked the class to greet Mister Evans politely."
2
An informal way to address a man whose name is unknown.
"'Scuse me Mister, do you have the time?"
"Hey, mister, you dropped your wallet!"
"Excuse me, mister, is this the right bus for the station?"
How to use mister
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe polite title "Mr.," or a casual way to address an unfamiliar man.
When to use it
Used alone (without a name) it sounds informal or old-fashioned, e.g. "Watch it, mister."
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Word forms
- Plural
- misters
- Third person singular
- misters
- Past tense
- mistered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Good afternoon, _____ Johnson.
Etymology
An unstressed variant of "master," in use since around the 15th century.
Class of 1400
mister joined the language around 1400.
See the full Class of 1400 →
Synonyms
View more →
sir
mr
Related words
Rhymes for mister
See all rhymes for mister →Frequently asked questions
What does “mister” mean?
The word “mister” means a title of respect used before a man's name, usually written "Mr.". In plain terms, the polite title "Mr.," or a casual way to address an unfamiliar man.
How do you pronounce “mister”?
“Mister” is pronounced MIHS-tuh (/ˈmɪstəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “mister” in a sentence?
Here is “mister” used in a sentence: “Good afternoon, Mister Johnson.”
What part of speech is “mister”?
“Mister” is a noun.
Where does the word “mister” come from?
The word “mister” dates back to around 1400. An unstressed variant of "master," in use since around the 15th century.
Is “mister” a common word?
“Mister” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mister” have?
“Mister” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a title of respect used before a man's name, usually written "Mr.".
What is the difference between "mister" and "Mr."?
"Mr." is the standard written abbreviation used before a man's name, while "mister" is the full spoken word, mostly used informally rather than in formal writing. Formal written address almost always uses "Mr." instead of spelling out "mister."
Is it polite to call someone "mister" without using their name?
Addressing a man as "mister" alone when his name is unknown is informal and can sound curt depending on tone, so more polite alternatives such as "sir" are often preferred in formal situations.
Can "mister" be used to address a boy?
"Mister" is generally used for adult men rather than boys, though it can be used informally or playfully in casual speech regardless of age.
