Ms
UK[mɪz]US[mɪz]
n
A title used before a woman's surname or full name, regardless of her marital status.
Etymology
The title "Ms." was created in the 20th century as a female counterpart to "Mr.", which does not indicate marital status. It is a blend of the titles "Miss" and "Mrs.", deliberately omitting the final letters to remain ambiguous. The term was popularized by the feminist movement in the 1970s as a default title for women, analogous to "Mr." for men, promoting equality by separating professional and social identity from marital status.
Analysis
This is a constructed title, not formed from combinable morphemes in the traditional sense. It is an abbreviation.
Examples
The form should be addressed to Ms. Johnson.
She prefers to use the title Ms. rather than Miss or Mrs.
Please welcome our next speaker, Ms. Elena Rodriguez.