Marquee vs. Marquis

Photo of author

Grammarist

In North American English, marquee describes the canopy that hangs over the entrance to a building such as a theater or a hotel. This marquee usually advertises the name of the building or the movie, play or entertainer appearing at the building. Marquee may also be used as an adjective to indicate the lead or premier entertainer in a production. In British English, a marquee is a large, commercial tent used in outdoor events of a social or commercial nature.

A marquis is a European nobleman who ranks below a duke and above a count, the title of marquis is a hereditary title. In Great Britain and in Ireland, the spelling is marquess.

Examples

Members of a committee looking into city ordinances governing mobile food service operations and marquee signs said they were generally receptive to the ideas, although they won’t have the final say on the issues. (The Bellefontaine Examiner)

he Orlando Magic franchise once established itself as a prime destination for marquee free agents. (The Orlando Sentinel)

The Rialto Square Theatre is bringing in parts of the marquee that was stopped mid-construction when an unveiling of the design in late 2014 generated an opposition movement. (The Herald-News)

After the Marquis of Pombal’s reforms in 1773 and 1774 which abolished autos-da-fé (burning Judaizing heretics at the stake) and culminated in the Portuguese Inquisition being dissolved in 1821, many of the country’s Catholic institutions closed. (The Jerusalem Post)

Fabiano’s sweet, supple voice was even throughout his range, and he displayed palpable chemistry with Elizabeth, as well as with his friend Rodrigo, the Marquis of Posa. (The San Francisco Examiner)

Work on the two bungalows was started in December 1850 and completed in September 1851, “between which periods there were only 248 working days, in consequence of the severity of the winter and the long continuance of the rainy season,” Briggs notes, adding, “In October 1851, the Most Noble the Marquis of Dalhousie personally inspected the whole of the completed works.” (The Times of India)

Enjoyed reading about these homophones? Check out some others we covered: