1
a
: a predominantly fawn-colored Old World bird (Garrulus glandarius) of the crow family with a black-and-white crest and wings marked with black, white, and blue
b
: any of various usually crested and largely blue chiefly New World birds that are related to the common Old World jay and have roving habits and harsh voices compare blue jay
2
3
: a moderate blue
1
: the letter j
2
Examples of jay in a Sentence
Noun (1)
a snooty little jay who refused to wear anything but designer labels
the stranger's incessant chatter was annoying, and she was the kind of jay that I didn't have in mind when I entered the park
Recent Examples on the Web
Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 June 2025
Other birds, such as crows and jays, also may damage lawns.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 8 May 2025
Other birds, such as crows and jays, also may damage lawns.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2024
There would be, for her, no thrilling thunk of a landing jay, no chickadee wings fanning her ears.
—Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for jay
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Noun
The bottle designs for this year’s collection are said to be inspired by a few different animals that are native to Mexico: axolotl, jaguar, monarch butterfly, dwarf jay, Tamaulipas owl, and the Mexican wolf.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 13 June 2025
Other birds, such as crows and jays, also may damage lawns.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 8 May 2025
Other birds, such as crows and jays, also may damage lawns.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2024
There would be, for her, no thrilling thunk of a landing jay, no chickadee wings fanning her ears.
—Murr Brewster, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for jay
Cite this Entry
“Jay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jay. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationBiographical Definition
Jay
biographical name
John 1745–1829 American jurist and statesman; 1st chief justice U.S. Supreme Court (1789–95)
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