People sometimes say sir as a very formal and polite way of addressing a man whose name they do not know or a man of superior rank. For example, a shop assistant might address a male customer as sir.
[politeness]
Excuse me sir, but would you mind telling me what sort of car that is?
Good afternoon to you, sir.
2. title noun
Sir is the title used in front of the name of a knight or baronet.
She introduced me to Sir Tobias and Lady Clarke.
3. convention
You use the expression Dear sir at the beginning of a formal letter or a business letter when you are writing to a man. You use Dear sirs when you are writing to an organization.
Dear Sir, Your letter of the 9th October has been referred to us.
sir in British English
(sɜː)
noun
1.
a formal or polite term of address for a man
2. archaic
a gentleman of high social status
Word origin
C13: variant of sire
Sir in British English
(sɜː)
noun
1.
a title of honour placed before the name of a knight or baronet
Sir Walter Raleigh
2. archaic
a title placed before the name of a figure from ancient history
Sir in American English
Bible
Sirach
sir in American English
(sɜr)
noun
1.
a man of rank; lord
2. [sometimesS-]
a respectful term of address used to a man: not followed by the given name or surname and often used in the salutation of a letter
Dear Sir
3. [S-]
the title used before the given name or full name of a knight or baronet
Sir Walter Ralegh
4. Archaic
a term of address used with the title of a man's office, rank, or profession
sir priest, sir judge, sir knight
Word origin
ME < sire: see sire
Examples of 'sir' in a sentence
sir
Would sir like to taste the cheese?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Or would sir like to be dissolved in caustic potash and then flushed away down the sewers?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
How funky would sir like the wheels?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
How would sir like his eggs?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Which row of seats would you like, sir?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Will you come this way, sir?
Diana Wynne Jones CHARMED LIFE (1977)
You need to know, sir.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Little people like me, sir.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Which way does sir dress?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
What shall we say, sir, for the elephant?
William Thackeray Vanity Fair (1837)
Sorry, sir, shut up and pay up.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Sorry, sir, not on the guest list.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Yes, sir, just like rabbit.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Step this way, sir, if you please.
Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol (1843)
The bodyguard replied: 'Yes sir.
The Sun (2011)
I don't like it, sir.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
sir
British English: sir /sɜː/ NOUN
People sometimes say sir as a polite way of addressing a man.
Excuse me sir, is this your car?
American English: sir
Arabic: سَيِّدِي
Brazilian Portuguese: senhor
Chinese: 先生
Croatian: gospodin
Czech: sir
Danish: herre
Dutch: meneer
European Spanish: señor
Finnish: herra arvonimi tai puhuttelusana
French: monsieur
German: Herr Höflichkeitsform
Greek: σερ
Italian: signore
Japanese: あなた
Korean: 경 호칭
Norwegian: herr
Polish: pan
European Portuguese: senhor
Romanian: domn
Russian: сэр
Latin American Spanish: señor
Swedish: herrn
Thai: คำสุภาพสำหรับเรียกผู้ชาย
Turkish: efendim
Ukrainian: сер
Vietnamese: ngài quý ông
All related terms of 'sir'
Sir Kay
(in Arthurian legend) the braggart foster brother and steward of King Arthur
Sir Galahad
(in Arthurian legend ) the most virtuous knight of the Round Table, destined to regain the Holy Grail ; son of Lancelot and Elaine
Sir Bedivere
(in Arthurian legend ) a knight who took the dying King Arthur to the barge in which he was carried to Avalon
Sir Frederick
Sir Earle ( Christmas Grafton ). 1880–1961, Australian statesman ; co-leader, with S. M. Bruce , of the federal government of Australia (1923–29)
sir-reverence
an expression of apology used esp to introduce taboo or vulgar words or phrases
Sir Roger de Coverley
an English country dance performed to a traditional tune by two rows of dancers facing each other
Bors
one the knights of the Round Table , nephew of Lancelot
Chinese translation of 'sir'
sir
(səʳ)
n
(as address) 先生 (xiānsheng)
yes, sir是，先生 (shì, xiānsheng)
Dear Sir亲(親)爱(愛)的先生 (Qīn'ài de xiānsheng)
Dear Sirs诸(諸)位先生 (Zhūwèi xiānsheng)
Dear Sir or Madam亲(親)爱(愛)的先生或女士 (Qīn'ài de xiānsheng huò nǚshì)
Sir John Smith约(約)翰·史密斯爵士 (Yuēhàn Shǐmìsī Juéshì)
All related terms of 'sir'
Dear Sir
亲(親)爱(愛)的先生 Qīn'ài de xiānsheng
yes, sir
是，先生 shì, xiānsheng
Dear Sir/Madam
( in letter ) 亲(親)爱(愛)的先生/女士 qīn'ài de xiānsheng/nǚshì