ENGLISH
REFERENCE

yours sincerely

idiom
Meaning

A polite, formulaic phrase used at the end of a letter, especially when the sender knows the recipient's name.


Examples
SIMPLE

Yours sincerely, John Smith.

CONTEXTUAL

She ended her job application with 'Yours sincerely' since she knew the manager's name.

COMPLEX

Having addressed him by name throughout the letter, she concluded with 'Yours sincerely,' following the conventions of formal correspondence.

Anchors to

© 2026 English Reference