men's

See also: mens

English

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /mɛnz/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • Audio (Canada):(file)
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛnz

Noun

men's

  1. possessive case of men: belonging to some or all male humans.
  2. Ellipsis of men’s room (a lavatory intended for use by men).
    • 1898, The Hotel/Motor Hotel Monthly, volume 6, page 27:
      A gents' toilet room might be found in a house that caters for the cheaper class of theatrical patronage, where the slangy language of the "goin' to the mat this aft?" style prevails. A gents toilet room is not found in the Southern Hotel. It either "men's" or "gentlemen's".
  3. Ellipsis of men's department (an area selling clothing for adult males in a department store).

Usage notes

Distinguished from man's, which as a collective noun, refers to all mankind in every gender. Not to be used as a form of men, the simple plural.

Synonyms

Coordinate terms

See also

  • Appendix:Special uses of possessives in English

Anagrams