mayor

noun

may·​or ˈmā-ər  ˈmer 

especially before names (ˌ)mer

: an official elected or appointed to act as chief executive or nominal head of a city, town, or borough

mayoral

ˈmā-ə-rəl 

ˈmer-əl;

  ˌmā-ˈȯr-əl 

adjective

Examples of mayor in a Sentence

the mayor of New York

Recent Examples on the Web

But the mayor has called his critics' alternative budget a nonstarter. —Chris Tye, CBS News, 9 Dec. 2025

The commission has seven members who are appointed by the Little Rock mayor, subject to the confirmation of the Little Rock Board of Directors. —Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 8 Dec. 2025

Coppard learned much at the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, which focuses on training American mayors, but offers 25% of its seats to international mayors. —Glenn Gamboa, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2025

Duggan is expected to touch on his tenure as Detroit's mayor for the last 12 years and may tap into his campaign for Michigan governor as an independent. —Dana Afana, Freep.com, 8 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English maire, from Anglo-French, from Latin major greater — more at major

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mayor

• gayer
• grayer
• greyer
• layer
• nayar
• payer
• payor
• peyer
• player
• preyer
• sayer
• slayer

Kids Definition

mayor

noun

may·​or ˈmā-ər  ˈme(-)ər 

: an official elected to act as head of a city or borough

mayoral

ˈmā-ə-rəl  ˈme- ə- 

adjective

Legal Definition

mayor

noun

may·​or ˈmā-ər, ˈmer 

: an official elected or appointed to act as chief executive or nominal head of a city, town, or borough