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
Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2025
Officials said residents should report dead birds — including crows, jays and magpies, which have a particularly high risk of infection — by calling the state Department of Public Health hotline at 877-968-2473.
—Ethan Wolin
july 7, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2025
Blue jays are kind of the police of the bird world.
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Each bottle is painted with one of six native Mexican species—the axolotl, jaguar, monarch butterfly, dwarf jay, Tamaulipas owl, or Mexican wolf that are assigned randomly for each purchase—houses an extra añejo that rests for three years in both new American and European oak.
—Jillian Dara, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for jay
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Noun
Oaks are famous for their acorns, which aren’t just consumed by animals but also by birds such as woodpeckers and jays.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 July 2025
Officials said residents should report dead birds — including crows, jays and magpies, which have a particularly high risk of infection — by calling the state Department of Public Health hotline at 877-968-2473.
—Ethan Wolin
july 7, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2025
Blue jays are kind of the police of the bird world.
—Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Each bottle is painted with one of six native Mexican species—the axolotl, jaguar, monarch butterfly, dwarf jay, Tamaulipas owl, or Mexican wolf that are assigned randomly for each purchase—houses an extra añejo that rests for three years in both new American and European oak.
—Jillian Dara, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for jay
Cite this Entry
“Jay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jay. Accessed 31 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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