Editing Sir (section)

{{short description|Honorific title}}
{{About|the title and honorific}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{use British English|date=August 2016}}
'''''Sir''''' is a formal [[honorific]] address in [[English language|English]] for men, derived from [[Sire]] in the [[High Middle Ages]]. Both are derived from the old French "{{lang|fr|Sieur}}" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as part of "{{lang|fr|Monsieur}}", with the equivalent "My Lord" in English.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} 

Traditionally, as governed by law and custom, Sir is used for men who are [[knight]]s and belong to certain [[Order of chivalry|orders of chivalry]], as well as later applied to [[baronet]]s and other offices. 

As the female equivalent for knighthood is damehood, the ''[[suo jure]]'' female equivalent term is typically [[Dame]]. The wife of a knight or baronet tends to be addressed as [[Lady]], although a few exceptions and interchanges of these uses exist.

Additionally, since the [[late modern period]], Sir has been used as a respectful way to address a man of superior [[social status]] or [[military rank]]. Equivalent terms of address for women are [[Madam]] (shortened to Ma'am), in addition to social honorifics such as [[Mrs]], [[Ms.|Ms]], or [[Miss]].