half-mast

1 of 2

noun

ˈhaf-ˈmast 

ˈhäf-

: a point some distance but not necessarily halfway down below the top of a mast or staff or the peak of a gaff

half-mast

2 of 2

verb

half-masted; half-masting; half-masts

transitive verb

: to cause to hang at half-mast

half-mast a flag

Examples of half-mast in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Flags will be flown at half-mast in public buildings, and will remain until sunset on the day of his funeral. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024

What is the difference between half-mast and half-staff? —Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 20 June 2024

Verb

Patterson High’s junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps said Izaiah was a cadet, and shared a photo of the school’s flags flying at half-mast Tuesday. —Dillon Mullan, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2023

Half-staff is the preferred form of reference in presidential decrees while half-mast is used outside of the U.S. —Ridah Syed, Journal Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1800, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1785, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

half-mast

noun

ˈhaf-ˈmast,

ˈhȧf-

: a point about halfway down below the top of a mast or staff

flags hanging at half-mast