Messrs.
Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Title and Honorific
| Stands for | Messieurs (plural of Mr.) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Writing & Everyday |
Messrs. stands for Messieurs (plural of Mr.), a title and honorific abbreviation.
Plural of Mr., used to address or refer to two or more men together, as in "Messrs. Smith and Jones." It also appears before the names of partnerships and law firms in formal British usage.
Example: The contract was drawn up by Messrs. Harding and Lowe, solicitors, of Bristol.
Usage notes
Borrowed from French messieurs, "sirs." British usage omits the period (Messrs). The term now sounds formal or old-fashioned and survives mostly in legal correspondence, minutes and news outlets that still use courtesy titles. Pronounced "MESS-erz." The female counterpart is Mmes.
Related abbreviations
More title and honorific abbreviations
- KBE – Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Kt. – Knight
- Lt. Gov. – Lieutenant Governor
- M. – Monsieur
- M/s – Messrs. (used before a firm's name)
- MBE – Member of the Order of the British Empire
- Mlle. – Mademoiselle
- Mme. – Madame
- Mmes. – Mesdames (plural of Mrs. or Madame)
- Mr. – Mister
- Mrs. – Missus (originally Mistress)
- Ms. – Ms. (title for a woman regardless of marital status)