sirnoun [ as form of address ]
uk/sɜːr/us/sɝː/also Sir formalB1 used as a formal and polite way of speaking to a man, especially one who you are providing a service to or who is in a position of authority:
Would you like to see the menu, sir?
"Did you hear what I said?" "Yes, Sir."
Compare
madam
Miss
Ms
mainly UK sometimes used by children to address or refer to teachers who are men:
Can I go to the toilet, sir?
Indian English used after the name of a man, especially one who is in a position of authority, in order to be polite or show respect:
John Sir
Dear Sir
B2 used to begin a formal letter to a man whose name you do not know. "Dear Sirs" is an old fashioned way of beginning a letter to a company.
Dear Sir or Madam
used to begin a formal letter when you do not know if the person you are writing to is a man or a woman
More examples
- Come hither, young sir!
- I'm sorry, sir, the salmon is off.
- Officer Clarke will show you where to go, sir.
- The seat of those trousers looks rather tight, sir - Would you like to try a larger size?
- Would you like to settle up now, sir?
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Written greetings
- best
- best wishes
- concern
- darling
- dear
- dearest
- ever
- faithfully
- greeting
- love
- madam
- regard
- respectfully
- Respectfully yours idiom
- season's greetings
- sincerely
- truly
- wish
- with
- yours
Idiom(s)
no sir