noun
esquire
ih-SKWEYE-uh
noun
1
A title placed after a lawyer's name in the US, often abbreviated "Esq."
"The letter was addressed to John Carter, Esquire."
2
Historically, an English gentleman ranked just below a knight, or a young man who served a knight before becoming one himself.
"In medieval times, an esquire carried the knight's shield and armor into battle."
How to Use Esquire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA polite or formal title, now mostly used after American lawyers' names.
When to use it
Largely archaic in everyday British English; in the US it survives specifically as a courtesy title for attorneys.
Common pairings
Esq.
attorney and esquire
Word Forms
esquired past tense, esquires plural, esquires plural, esquires singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “esquire”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The letter was addressed to John Carter, _____.
Etymology
From Old French escuier, "shield-bearer," from Latin scutum, "shield" — the same root that gives us "escutcheon."