Hail Mary

noun

plural Hail Marys

1

: a Roman Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary that consists of salutations and a plea for her intercession

2

or less commonly Hail Mary pass : a long forward pass in football thrown into or near the end zone in a last-ditch attempt to score as time runs out

—often used figuratively

The only potential cure is a stem-cell transplant, when you take somebody else's immune system and put it into yours. But right now that's kind of a Hail Mary pass.

—Douglas Cote, quoted in Bicycling

Examples of Hail Mary in a Sentence

He threw up a Hail Mary at the end of the first half.

Recent Examples on the Web

Especially because the way it was created was just a Hail Mary. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025

Last week, a three-judge panel with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected her latest bid to overturn her felony fraud conviction and prison sentence, narrowing her options for early freedom to a Hail Mary appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court or a presidential pardon. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 12 May 2025

Harry makes a Hail Mary call to the mysterious Kat McAllister, saving Seraphina — but not her brother — at the last minute. —EW.com, 11 May 2025

Hopes of a mistrial being declared is a bit of a Hail Mary. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 11 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

translation of Medieval Latin Ave, Maria, from the opening words

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Hail Mary

• askari
• astbury
• azeri
• banbury
• barberry
• blackberry
• blueberry
• canary
• cranberry
• dentary
• dewberry
• dogberry

Kids Definition

Hail Mary

noun

-ˈme(ə)r-ē,

-ˈma(ə)r-ē,

-ˈmā-rē

: a Roman Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary