Em

Pronunciation

• enPR: Ä•m, IPA: /É›m/
• Rhymes: -É›m

The typographic em is named after the metal type for the capital M in early printing, whose body was square (the printed letter M is almost never one em in width).

Full definition of em

Noun

1. The ems and ens at the beginnings and ends.
2. (typography) A unit of measurement equal to the height of the type in use.

Synonyms

• (typography) quad, em quad
• (typography) mutton, mut

Derived terms

• emcee
• em dash

Coined by Christine M. Elverson by removing the "th" from them, perhaps influenced by 'em.

Pronoun

1. (neologism) them singular. gender-neutral

Synonyms

• him or her, him/her
• singular them
• neologism hir

Derived terms

• neologism emself

Pronunciation

• IPA: /É›(ː)m/

Interjection

1. (Scotland, Ireland) a form of hesitant speech, or an expression of uncertainty; um; umm; ermShe was going to, em... the salon, I think.

Anagrams

• me, ME, Me.