# em dash

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. The symbol (—) (used to demarcate a parenthetical thought or to indicate a break, or for emphasis); a one-em or long dash.

## Etymology
Named for its width, which is equal to the width of the letter m or M, or approximately twice the width of an en dash.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/em-dash