ms

1 of 3

abbreviation (1)

millisecond

Ms.

2 of 3

noun

ˈmiz 

variants US Ms. or British Ms

plural Mss. or Mses. ˈmi-zəz 

—used as a conventional title of courtesy before a woman's surname

My history teacher is Ms. Judson

—used instead of Miss or Mrs. (as when the marital status of a woman is unknown or irrelevant)

Ms. Mary Smith

"I think you do want to dispute the fact that you had a difficult childhood," Ms. Johnston told Mrs. Gore, who was silent for several beats, then agreed.

—Katha Pollitt

But it wasn't until the 1970s that Ms. took its place in the emerging women's liberation movement. It was a heady time for women, and the new prefix represented an important new way for them to define themselves as individuals, rather than in terms of their relationship to men.

—Carol Toller

MS

3 of 3

abbreviation (2)

1

[Italian mano sinistra] left hand

2

manuscript

3

master of science

4

military science

5

Mississippi

6

motor ship

7

multiple sclerosis

Examples of ms in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One of those cleared lots sits across the street from Mr. Quiroz and Ms. Flores’ house on Olive Avenue. —Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 20 June 2025

Brandon Ewing, one of the event organizers and the past president of the District 60 Board of Education, said both the parade and recognizing Mr. Juneteenth and Ms. Juneteenth are first-time events. —Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025

Perry, well-known for her zany and over-the-top fashion, starred as dressmaker Ms. Leopard in the celebratory Peppa Pig Wedding Party Special. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 18 June 2025

Lee, known as Ms. Opal, has spent years fighting for Juneteenth to become a national holiday and was finally able to see the fruit of her labor at 94-years-old in 2021. —Danielle Broadway, Parents, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably blend of Miss and Mrs.

First Known Use

Noun

1901, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Ms.

noun

(ˌ)miz 

plural Mss. or Mses. ˈmiz-əz 

—used instead of Miss or Mrs. (as when it is unknown or unimportant whether the woman addressed is married or single)

Etymology

Noun

probably a combination of Miss and Mrs.

Medical Definition

ms

1 of 2 abbreviation

millisecond

MS

2 of 2 abbreviation

1

mass spectrometry

2

master of science

3

multiple sclerosis