noun
- words or names used to address or refer to someone or something; terms of address
Usage: formal; linguistics
Examples
- The teacher explained that appellatives like ‘sir’ and ‘madam’ show respect.
- In many cultures, appellatives for elders differ from those used for peers.
- The study examined appellatives used in formal business correspondence.
- Common appellatives in English include titles like ‘Mr.’, ‘Dr.’, and ‘Professor’.
- The linguist analyzed how appellatives vary across different social contexts.
- Children learn appropriate appellatives for addressing adults at an early age.