: an international organization that promotes the spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical welfare originally of young men
usually used with the
a member of the YMCA
sometimes shortened informally to the Y

Examples of YMCA in a Sentence

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.
Waukegan, with an affordable and wide mix of housing stock, is seeing an uptick in building plans, including repurposing the old YMCA at County and Clayton streets downtown. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025 The Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial in La Jolla and San Diego Nice Guys presented a $50,000 donation to the Armed Services YMCA on June 25 to go to families who lost vehicles when a plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood filled with military families early May 22. Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2025 Take for example Camp Becket YMCA, an all-boys summer camp in Massachusetts. Ashleigh N. Deluca, Parents, 27 June 2025 Rodriguez drew on her own experience as a 9-year-old child in a YMCA program called Indian Princesses. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for YMCA

Word History

Etymology

Young Men's Christian Association

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of YMCA was in 1868

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“YMCA.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/YMCA. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

: an international organization that promotes the spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical welfare originally of young Christian men
Etymology

Young Men's Christian Association

More from Merriam-Webster on YMCA

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