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.
His father, Kenneth Getty, who died last year, was convicted and sentenced to federal prison for bid-rigging stemming from his time as mayor in the 1990s. — Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 The funding marks the first substantial philanthropic pledge toward the mayor’s plan, which city leaders hope to pay for by using a combination of tax dollars and charitable contributions. — Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Several departments are looking to hire for new positions, including the mayor’s office and police department. — Gabriel Brito, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 28 Aug. 2026 Bradley, the Canadian mayor, also noticed the conundrum facing the American opposition. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mayor

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