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

Smaller delivery vehicles, including cars, vans and bikes are exempt, the mayor's office said. — Mark Prussin, CBS News, 25 June 2026

Former Atlanta mayor and Democratic nominee for governor Keisha Lance Bottoms campaigns outside of a shuttered rural hospital in Commerce, Georgia on June 17, 2026. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 25 June 2026

Campbell, who previously served on the Boston City Council, and was defeated in her bid for mayor, was elected attorney general in 2022, running on issues like transparency and accountability. — Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 25 June 2026

The mayor of Old Bridge, NJ officiated the nuptials. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 25 June 2026

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