To save this word, you'll need to log in.
es·quire | \ ˈe-ˌskwī(-ə)r 
, i-ˈskwī(-ə)r \
, i-ˈskwī(-ə)r \Definition of esquire
1 : a member of the English gentry ranking below a knight
2 : a candidate for knighthood serving as shield bearer and attendant to a knight
3 —used as a title of courtesy often by attorneys usually placed in its abbreviated form after the surnameJohn R. Smith, Esq.
4 archaic : a landed proprietor
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for esquire
esquire
nounes·quire | \ ˈes-ˌkwīr \
\Legal Definition of esquire
—used as a title of courtesy for lawyers usually placed in its abbreviated form after the name and capitalized John R. Smith, Esq. Jane L. Smith, Esq.
Comments on esquire
What made you want to look up esquire? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Semantic Drift Quiz
- Which of the following was once a synonym for fun?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Share esquire
Time Traveler for esquire
The first known use of esquire was in the 15th century
See more words from the same century