ma'am

/mæm/
noun
  1. A polite way to address a woman, especially one in a position of authority or an older woman.
    • When the police officer approached, she said, 'Good evening, ma'am, may I see your license?'
    • The student raised his hand and said, 'Excuse me, ma'am, I have a question.'
    • The flight attendant asked, 'Would you like coffee or tea, ma'am?'
  2. A formal term used to address a female customer or client in service settings.
    • The cashier smiled and said, 'Here's your change, ma'am.'
    • The waiter brought the menu and said, 'Your table is ready, ma'am.'
    • The hotel clerk asked, 'Will you be needing a wake-up call, ma'am?'
Synonyms
What does "ma'am" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean