men's

See also: mens

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɛnz/

• Audio (Southern England)

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• Audio (CA)

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• Rhymes: -ɛnz

Noun

men's

1. possessive case of men: belonging to some or all male humans.
2. Ellipsis of men’s room: a lavatory intended for use by men.
   • 1898, The Hotel/Motor Hotel Monthly, volume 6, page 27:

     A gents' toilet room might be found in a house that caters for the cheaper class of theatrical patronage, where the slangy language of the "goin' to the mat this aft?" style prevails. A gents toilet room is not found in the Southern Hotel. It either "men's" or "gentlemen's".

3. Ellipsis of men's department: an area selling clothing for adult males in a department store.

Usage notes

Distinguished from man's, which as a collective noun, refers to all mankind in every gender. Not to be used as a form of men, the simple plural.

Synonyms

• (facility for urination and defecation): See Thesaurus:bathroom

Coordinate terms

• (all senses): women's, ladies'

See also

• Appendix:Special uses of possessives in English

Anagrams

• NEMS, nems