Ms.

Ms. (American English) or Ms (British English, Australian English and New Zealand English; normally , but also , or when unstressed) is an English-language honorific used with the last name or full name of a woman, intended as a default form of address for women regardless of marital status. Like Miss and Mrs., the term Ms. has its origins in the female English title once used for all women, Mistress, the feminine form of Mister and Master. It originated in the 17th century and was revived into mainstream usage in the 20th century.

It is followed by a full stop, or period, in Canada and the United States, but not in other English-speaking countries.