: a low island or reef of sand or coral

Examples of cay in a Sentence

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.
Offshore, cays drift in dreamy isolation—their edges kissed by foamy surf and dotted with nesting Brown Pelicans. Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025 The Bahamas, Beyond More than 700 islands and cays comprise the Bahamas, yet for much of their history, just two main islands have welcomed any meaningful number of visitors: New Providence, home to the capital city of Nassau, and Grand Bahama, home to the bustling port of Freeport. Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025 It can be reached via water taxi or private catamaran (around 20 minutes) and is one of the cays that make up La Cordillera Nature Reserve. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 27 July 2025 All throughout the week, locals can be found pulling their boats up to the edge of a cay, dropping anchor and enjoying a Medalla under the sun—and for any outdoor adventurers, Fondo de Cristal has a wealth of options available to help join in on the fun. Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for cay

Word History

Etymology

Spanish cayo — more at key

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cay was in 1707

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Cite this Entry

“Cay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cay. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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