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-masted; half-masting; half-masts
: to cause to hang at half-mast
half-mast a flag
Examples of half-mast in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 27 June 2024
The American flag – as well as the state’s and Giants’ – slew at half-mast in center field.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 24 June 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for half-mast 
Noun
Flags at Oracle Park continue to fly at half-mast in his honor.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 27 June 2024
The American flag – as well as the state’s and Giants’ – slew at half-mast in center field.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 24 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
See all Example Sentences for half-mast
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'half-mast.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near half-mast
Cite this Entry
“Half-mast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half-mast. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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