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

The mayor could seek to combine any one of them with a larger department. —David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025

Her campaign for mayor focused on bridging divides in a city facing serious challenges. —Oumou Fofana, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025

The successful council members need to therefore have team working abilities (with their fellow council members and with the mayor of the city) as well as have professional/real world experience to go toe-to-toe with the city management staff. —Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025

Nor is implementing these policies as politically convenient as blaming sanctuary city mayors. —Christopher S. Warshaw, The Conversation, 18 Apr. 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