# Esq

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/esq
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a title of respect that people in the US put after a lawyer's name. You only use it in writing, never when speaking to the person.

For teachers: an honorific title placed after a person's surname, primarily used in the United States to identify a licensed attorney. In British English, it historically denoted a higher social rank below a knight but is now largely a formal courtesy for any man in written correspondence.

## Examples

- The letter was addressed to Jane Doe, Esq.
- When drafting the formal legal notice, the clerk made sure to append Esq. to the lead attorney's name.

## Pitfalls

- Not "Mr. John Smith, Esq." but "John Smith, Esq." — Esq. is a post-nominal title that replaces honorifics like Mr. or Ms. rather than complementing them.

## Usage notes

- Always abbreviated as 'Esq.' and placed after the full name; it is never used alongside other titles like 'Mr.' or 'Ms.'

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.