I have read the meaning of "madam" on Google and it is said to be a respectful title for a woman, or a woman who runs a house of prostitution:
A woman who is running a brothel where prostitutes work for money is an example of a madam.
Please clarify.
In British English at least, it is inoffensive to use "Madam" as a form of address (equivalent to "Sir" but for women), as in "May I be of any assistance, Madam?".
Americans would usually use "Ma'am" instead.
But "madam" as a common noun — "a madam" — is to be avoided.
"Madam" or "Ma'am" are polite words to use when you don't know a woman's name, but need a way to refer to her like a name. They are terms of address. It is fairly formal and not very common, as in situations when you talk to someone who you don't know, you don't often need to address them. The typical example is a shop worker speaking to a customer.
Would madam like cream in her tea? (This uses third person in a very humble way, it is not normal to speak like this)
It is also used (usually as ma'am) in schools, by schoolchildren to address teachers. (Not all schools use it. It is part of the culture of the school). It is also sometimes used in situations of strict hierarchy. A police constable might refer to her Inspector as "Ma'am" because the constable is a junior officer. The same is true in the armed services. In these contexts, it is nearly always reduced to "ma'am".
Now, one particular context in which you might need to address a woman, but not know her name is a brothel. The woman who organises the prostitutes doesn't give her name (after all, brothels are illegal) and so she is addressed as "madam" and as a common noun, "a madam" can mean a woman who runs a brothel. This doesn't make it offensive. You can say "Thank you, madam" without implying that she is like a brothel keeper.
It is also used ironically. A small girl who acts like she is superior to others is ironically called a "little madam". This also doesn't reference prostitution but is irony.
Advice: Try to avoid "sir" and "madam" as much as possible. This is difficult culturally because in some cultures it is over-familiar to use someone's name. This is not the case in English. If you know someone's name you should normally use it. Even in contexts in which you would not use a name in your language.
Ms Jackson, please come in. Your car is ready for you.
Hello Kathy. Is it okay for me to tidy your office now?
If there is no official hierarchy, and you don't know a person's name you don't need to use Madam or ma'am. You don't need the words in brackets.
Here is my passport [ma'am].
Excuse me [madam], I think I'm lost. Can you tell me how to go to the station?
If you are part the army or police, or meeting the Queen, then you will know when you need to use ma'am.
In general, no, it's not insulting, but it's slightly stiff or formal — more so in American English than in British English. But the specific quote in your question is using one of the senses of the word that most people would find insulting in most cases, yes.
Like many words, madam has multiple meanings/senses.
The respectful one you're thinking of is:
LADY —used without a name as a form of respectful or polite address to a woman
Right this way, madam.
This is like the generic¹ sir for men, e.g. "May I help you, [madam/sir]?" Madam is more common in British English than American English, where you'd typically see/hear ma'am (Merriam-Webster) instead (the d that used to be there is neither written nor pronounced in American English).
That's not the sense being used in the quote in your question, though. A madam in the context of a brothel (a house of prostitution) is the woman who runs the brothel:
the female head of a house of prostitution
So when could it be insulting?
If used to call a woman a madam such that she could reasonably believe you were saying she runs a house of prostitution or comparing her to someone who does.
If used in a belittling way to indicate someone is acting as though they were superior to others. I recall hearing a British woman say to her young daughter, "You're behaving like a right little madam!" to mean that her daughter was acting stuck up (Merriam-Webster).
But if you just said "May I help you, madam?" or "After you, madam" or similar, that wouldn't be insulting.
¹ The generic form, not the formal title (Collins, sense 2) in some systems of honorifics, such as the British system with Sir Kenneth Branagh etc. The equivalent of that honorific for a woman is Dame (Collins, sense 1), as in Dame Judi Dench. (Dame can mean other things too. English is great fun...)
Nowadays, in some milieux, it is considered offensive to call anyone anything that presumes their gender. You must not presume that anyone is male or female.
In these days of ultra-political-correctness, we are supposed to ask each individual how they wish to be addressed.
I have no idea what the "correct" form of address is for a stranger these days.
In Britain we don't usually bother with honorifics of this sort anyway. We just assume that the person we are looking at, will realise we are addressing them specifically. If they are facing away from us or at a distance, we simply shout "Excuse me!" in their general direction and hope they turn round.
Madam is indeed used as a title of address, more rarely than it once was, at least in US usage. But there is a nuance not mentioned in any answer to date, which helps explain why some women have found it offensive.
Madam has always been used as a title of address for fully adult, even mature women (at least that is the normal usage). Thus when young women, used to being called "Miss" or in many cases given no title at all started to be addressed as "Madam", some considered it as a sign that they were no longer young, and resented it. The use of "madam" is probably no longer common enough for this reaction, but it was once a thing.
Also, like "Sir", the term "Madam" can be used in a stiff politeness actually intended to be insulting. Again this usage is of longer common. Some examples:
Sir, I find your actions unacceptable.
Madam, I had thought better of you.
Madame has both meanings -- a respectful title for a woman, and a woman who runs a nice brothel where the employees are treated well. We can tell from context which is meant. It helps that pimp is a more common and more insulting word for the second meaning.
Using madam where you would say a job is the brothel owner meaning: "a madam", or "is a madam". From a quick search of headlines "a former call girl, as well as a madam and author", and "Notorious Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss".
But using madam as a title or pronoun is fine. "I met madam Smith" is safe, or "madam, that is a lovely brooch" or simply "madam" instead of saying hello (like "your highness"). This use is much more common. If someone overheard just the word "madam" they'd never think about the other meaning.
in French, une madame is the name given to a female brothel keeper. When used without the article as in Madame Dupont or Monsieur et Madame Dupont the title becomes purely conventional and would be translated in English as Mrs.
It's not offensive, but here in America you'll get a funny look from her (and probably anyone within earshot) if you call a female "madam".
A servant or shopkeeper might use 'Madam'. Obsequious politeness. 'Dear Sir or Madam' is an old-fashioned but perfectly polite way to open a business letter to an unknown person.
Yes, 'Madam' can also refer to a brothel-keeper. There's no practical confusion.
It will be a pity if Political Correctness forces us into using a bland gender-less honorific. I know a comedian who gets a good laugh from addressing an audience member as 'Madam' then saying "I hope you don't mind me calling you Madam? I don't even know your profession!"
In the US, "Madam" would most commonly be used in formal letters, not speaking. I cannot think of the last time I spoke "madam" in any conversation.
As others have said, whether madam is respectful or derogatory depends on the local culture, situation, and tone to the word.
Having lived all over the USA, it is certainly used more in the southern US and more likely to be used between strangers in more formal engagements.
Ma'am would be safer, though some women will act offended to be called "Ma'am", since there's an implied "you are older than me". American women can be sensitive about age. It would be safe if you KNOW she is married. If she isn't married, then it becomes vague depending on the approximate age difference and if she thinks you might be in her dating range.
