: a wreath or necklace usually of flowers or leaves

lei

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural of leu

the basic monetary unit of Moldova and Romania see Money Table

Examples of lei in a Sentence

Noun (1) we were presented with flowery leis as soon as we stepped off the plane in Hawaii
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.
Noun
May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii For nearly 100 years, people in Hawaii have celebrated May Day as Lei Day, with celebratory pageants full of colorful lei flower necklaces taking place at schools, said John Rosa, a professor of Hawaiian history at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 1 May 2024 Giving a lei is a fun and beautiful way to show your support for a recent graduate. Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 7 May 2024 In Hawaii, a traditional lei is a wreath of fresh flowers, leaves or shells and represents community, love and friendship. Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 1 May 2024 In Hawaii, shops that serve shave ice, domes of pillowy-soft ice slivers doused in colorful syrups, vie for ubiquity with other local staples like poke places or lei stands. Matthew Dekneef, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for lei 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Hawaiian

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lei was in 1843

Dictionary Entries Near lei

Cite this Entry

“Lei.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lei. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

lei

noun
ˈlā,
ˈla-ˌē
: a wreath or necklace usually of flowers
Etymology

Noun

Hawaiian

More from Merriam-Webster on lei

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!