mayor

noun

may·​or ˈmā-ər How to pronounce mayor (audio) ˈmer How to pronounce mayor (audio)
especially before names (ˌ)mer
: an official elected or appointed to act as chief executive or nominal head of a city, town, or borough
mayoral
ˈmā-ə-rəl How to pronounce mayor (audio)
ˈmer-əl;
  ˌmā-ˈȯr-əl How to pronounce mayor (audio)
adjective

Examples of mayor in a Sentence

the mayor of New York
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Russian strikes on Ukraine's capital killed at least nine people and wounded more than two dozen others, local officials said Saturday local time, after Kyiv's mayor warned of a ballistic missile attack. — CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026 Many of the details haven’t been announced, however, including how much new money mayors will be getting. — ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026 Regina Kharchenko, acting mayor of Zaporizhzhia, said the city had been hit with 54 strikes targeting gas stations in a 24-day period until July 27. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 31 July 2026 Several Black community organizations, including the Seattle NAACP and the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, urged the mayor in a letter earlier Thursday not to remove Barnes. — Joe Kottke, NBC news, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mayor

Word History

Etymology

Middle English maire, from Anglo-French, from Latin major greater — more at major

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mayor was in the 14th century

Rhymes for mayor

See All Rhymes for mayor

Browse Nearby Words

mayonnaise
mayor
mayoral
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Cite this Entry

“Mayor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mayor. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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mayor

noun
may·​or ˈmā-ər, ˈmer How to pronounce mayor (audio)
: an official elected or appointed to act as chief executive or nominal head of a city, town, or borough

More from Merriam-Webster on mayor

Nglish: Translation of mayor for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mayor

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