em Meaning & Definition
What Does Em Mean?
Em is used as a noun meaning The name of the Latin script letter M/m. It can also mean A unit of measurement equal to the height of the type in use. As a pronoun, it means Alternative form of 'em. As a pronoun, it means A gender-neutral third-person singular object pronoun, the objective case of ey or e, equivalent to the singular them and coordinate with him and her.
Em: Key Facts
| Part of speech | noun, pronoun, interjection |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈɛm// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | mutton, pica and mut |
| Plural | ems |
Em Definition (Noun)
- The name of the Latin script letter M/m.
- A unit of measurement equal to the height of the type in use.
Insert here a one-em dash or long dash.
- A relative unit of sizing defined in terms of the font size.
Em as a Pronoun
- Alternative form of 'em.
Pronoun
- A gender-neutral third-person singular object pronoun, the objective case of ey or e, equivalent to the singular them and coordinate with him and her.
Em as an Interjection
- a form of hesitant speech, or an expression of uncertainty
She was abused by, em... David, I think. That was his name, he's a real em... what's the word, narcissist. You should really stay away from him.
Noun
- The name of the letter м/М in Cyrillic alphabets.
Noun
- The name of the Latin-script letter M.
The ems and ens at the beginnings and ends.
Pronoun
- A gender-neutral third-person singular object pronoun, the objective case of ey, equivalent to the singular them and coordinate with him and her.
Interjection
- A form of hesitant speech, or an expression of uncertainty; um; umm; erm
She was going to, em... the salon, I think.
Synonyms of Em
Em synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Em
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Em in a Sentence
Insert here a one-em dash or long dash.
She was abused by, em... David, I think. That was his name, he's a real em... what's the word, narcissist. You should really stay away from him.
The ems and ens at the beginnings and ends.
She was going to, em... the salon, I think.
Word Forms & Grammar
em (plural ems)
em
em (third-person singular, gender-neutral, objective case, reflexive emself, possessive adjective eir, possessive pronoun eirs)
Words That Rhyme With Em
Origin of Em
Origin 1: Attested since 1808. In typography, the em is named after the em quadrat (later called em quad), from m quadrat, a metal type used in letterpress typesetting, which is as wide as the point size of the font.
Origin 2: See 'em.
Origin 3: Coined by Christine M. Elverson by removing the "th" from them, perhaps influenced by the pre-existing em/'em, now often perceived as apheretic forms of them (though originally unrelated).
Origin 4: Onomatopoeic. Compare um.
Pronouncing Em
The standard pronunciation of em is //ˈɛm//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Em
Is em a noun or a pronoun?
Em is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as a pronoun and an interjection.
What is another word for em?
Close synonyms of em are mutton, pica and mut. See the full list of em synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of em?
The plural of em is ems.