Mr./Mr
Mr./Mr
Pronunciation
As "Mr." is an abbreviation and a title, its phonetic spelling and word form variations are a bit unique compared to regular nouns or verbs.
IPA Phonetic Spelling
Mr. /ˌmɪs.tər/
First Syllable: /mɪs/
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal consonant
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/s/ - voiceless alveolar fricative consonant
Second Syllable: /tər/
/t/ - voiceless alveolar plosive consonant
/ər/ - r-colored vowel (schwa + r sound)
Word Form Variations
"Mr." is a title and an abbreviation, not a word that typically changes form for singular, plural, or other grammatical variations in the way common nouns or verbs do.
Singular (as a title): Mr. (e.g., Mr. Smith)
Plural (referring to multiple men): Messrs. (an abbreviation for "Messieurs," the French plural of "Monsieur," often used in formal or legal contexts, e.g., Messrs. Jones and Williams)
No gender-neutral or feminine variations of "Mr." directly exist in the same way. For women, titles like "Ms.," "Miss," or "Mrs." are used. For gender-neutral options, "Mx." or using the person's full name without a title are becoming more common.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A title of respect used before the name of a man, typically to refer to an adult male.
Synonyms: Sir (when used as a direct address), gentleman (in some contexts).
Antonyms: Ms., Miss, Mrs. (feminine titles).
Definition 2: (Informal, often used humorously or to emphasize a specific quality) A personification or embodiment of a particular characteristic or role.
Example: "He's Mr. Fix-It around here." or "She's always been a bit of a Mr. Know-It-All."
Synonyms: Master (of something), expert, connoisseur, embodiment.
Antonyms: Novice, amateur.
Examples of Use
Books:
"He had a vague idea that he would have to come and see Mr. Tumnus again some time or other." (C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, 1950)
"It was a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so firmly fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters. 'My dear Mr. Bennet,' said his lady to him one day, 'have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?'" (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813)
Newspapers:
"The prime minister is scheduled to meet with Mr. Biden next week." (The New York Times)
"Shares rose significantly after Mr. Singh announced a new economic policy." (The Economic Times)
Online Publications:
"Mr. Beast's latest YouTube video broke viewership records, demonstrating his continued dominance in online content creation." (Mashable)
"In a new op-ed, Mr. Trump criticized the current administration's foreign policy approach." (Breitbart)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Bond, James Bond." "Good evening, Mr. Bond." (Dialogue from Dr. No, 1962)
Television Series: "Hello, Mr. Anderson." (Dialogue from The Matrix, 1999, though also heavily featured in its sequels and animated spin-offs which are TV-distributed)
Music: "I Am the Walrus" by The Beatles features the line, "I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together. See how they run like pigs from a gun, see how they fly. I'm crying. Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come. Corporation T-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday. Man you been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long. I am the eggman, they are the eggmen. I am the walrus, goo goo g'joob. Mr. City policeman sitting pretty little policeman in a row. See how they fly like Lucy in the Sky, see how they run." (The Beatles, Magical Mystery Tour, 1967)
General Public Discourse:
"Did you hear what Mr. Johnson said in his speech yesterday?" (Common conversational use, referring to a known public figure or even a local individual)
"Excuse me, Mr., you dropped your wallet." (Direct address to an unknown male)
10 Quotes Using Mr./Mr
"Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into, Ollie." "I did not, Stan, you did!" "Oh, no, Ollie, you did, you said to me, 'Go out and get the paint,' and I went out and got the paint, and I brought it back, and I gave it to you, and you said to me, 'Mr. Laurel, put the paint up on the wall.' And I put the paint up on the wall, and now look, all over the clothes, all over the paint, the paint's all over the place!" (Laurel and Hardy, The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case, 1930)
"Bond, James Bond." "Good evening, Mr. Bond." (Dr. No, 1962)
"Elementary, my dear Watson." "But really, Mr. Holmes, it's quite clear already." (Commonly attributed to Sherlock Holmes, though the precise phrasing is a popular misquote; variations appear in Arthur Conan Doyle's works.)
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn." "Oh, Mr. Butler, how can you say that?" (Gone With the Wind, 1939)
"Hello, Mr. Anderson." (The Matrix, 1999)
"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch." (Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, 1957)
"I am not a crook." "I want to say, too, that in all my years of public life, I have never profited, never profited from public service... I am not a crook. I've earned every penny I've got. And in all of my years of public life, I have never obstructed justice. And I think, too, that I can say that in my years of public life, that I have always welcomed this kind of examination, because people have got to know whether or not their President is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got." (Richard Nixon, November 17, 1973, in a televised press conference)
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" "Nothing beside remains. Round the decay / Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare / The lone and level sands stretch far away." "And on the pedestal these words appear: 'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: / Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!' / Nothing beside remains. Round the decay / Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare / The lone and level sands stretch far away." "And on the pedestal these words appear: 'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: / Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!'" (Percy Bysshe Shelley, "Ozymandias," 1818, though not directly using "Mr.," a common phrase when referring to someone as "Mr. Big" in a metaphorical sense).
"No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!" (Goldfinger, 1964)
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." "Ay, there are more things in heaven and earth, Mr. Hamlet, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet, c. 1600)
Etymology
The word "Mr." is actually a shortened form of "mister," which itself comes from the much older word "master."
Think of "master" as someone who has control, authority, or is highly skilled in something. Historically, it was used to refer to a man in charge, like a master of a household, a master craftsman, or even a teacher.
The first known uses of the abbreviation "Mr." started appearing around the mid-15th century (so, the 1400s). At that time, it was simply a quicker way to write "master" and still carried that meaning of respect and authority.
Over time, especially by the 18th century, "mister" (and its abbreviation "Mr.") started to become its own distinct word, no longer quite meaning "master" in the same way. It evolved into a general title of courtesy and respect used before a man's name, especially for those who didn't have a higher title like "Sir" or "Lord." So, while it began as a way to address someone with significant authority, it gradually broadened to become the respectful title for adult men that we know today.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Mr./Mr
Mr. Right: The ideal romantic partner, especially for a woman seeking a husband.
Mr. Fix-It: A person who is skilled at repairing things or solving problems.
Mr. Big: An important, powerful, or influential person, often in a criminal or conspiratorial context.
Mr. Know-It-All: A person who behaves as if they know everything and are always right.
Mr. Clean: A person who is considered morally upright, honest, and beyond reproach. (Also a brand name, but used colloquially).
Mr. Popularity: Someone who is very well-liked and has many friends.
Mr. Nice Guy: A man who is kind, pleasant, and agreeable, sometimes to a fault.
Mr. Personality: A person who has a very strong, often charismatic, character.
Mr. Nobody: An unimportant person; someone who lacks influence or status.
Mr. Grumpy: A person who is frequently in a bad mood or irritable.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of Mr./Mr from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
