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
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3
: a moderate blue
1
: the letter j
2
Synonyms
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
Amy Wilkinson, SELF, 14 June 2024
These jays are intelligent and are known to slip through treetops to rob nests of other birds.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Apr. 2024
Pliny noted that blackbirds, partridges, jays and pigeons also eat bay leaves for digestive problems.
—Adrienne Mayor, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2024
Other experiments have shown that members of the corvid family, which includes crows, jays, and magpies, can read one another’s intentions, plan for the future, and solve puzzles using abstract reasoning and tools.
—Ben Crair, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jay 
Noun
In addition to cardinals, jays, blackbirds, and titmice gravitate toward a hopper-style feeder.
—Amy Wilkinson, SELF, 14 June 2024
These jays are intelligent and are known to slip through treetops to rob nests of other birds.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Apr. 2024
Pliny noted that blackbirds, partridges, jays and pigeons also eat bay leaves for digestive problems.
—Adrienne Mayor, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2024
Other experiments have shown that members of the corvid family, which includes crows, jays, and magpies, can read one another’s intentions, plan for the future, and solve puzzles using abstract reasoning and tools.
—Ben Crair, The New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jay
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jay.' 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 jay
Cite this Entry
“Jay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jay. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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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