mayor

noun

may·​or ˈmā-ər  ˈmer 

 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 

ˈmer-əl;

ˌmā-ˈȯr-əl 

adjective

Examples of mayor in a Sentence

the mayor of New York

Recent Examples on the Web

His grandfather, Rafael José, was the mayor of Banes, a town in eastern Cuba, and his father Rafael Lincoln, was a power broker who rose to president of the Cuban Senate under Fulgencio Batista. —Nora Gámez Torres and, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025

During this year’s speech at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Adams, who is considering a run for mayor, will outline a proposal to expand the income eligibility for families to qualify for child care subsidies. —Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2025

Johnston is set to appear before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Wednesday morning alongside mayors from New York City, Chicago and Boston. —Elliott Wenzler, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2025

The new mayor elected in April will be expected to plan the budget and address the structural deficit immediately after taking office. —Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for mayor

• gayer
• grayer
• greyer
• layer
• nayar
• payer
• payor
• peyer
• player
• preyer
• sayer
• slayer

Kids Definition

mayor

noun

may·​or ˈmā-ər  ˈme(-)ər 

: an official elected to act as head of a city or borough

mayoral

ˈmā-ə-rəl  ˈme- ə- 

adjective

Legal Definition

mayor

noun

may·​or ˈmā-ər, ˈmer 

: an official elected or appointed to act as chief executive or nominal head of a city, town, or borough