1
old-fashioned + literary
—used to correct what you have said by replacing a word with one that is more accurate or appropriate
The letter made her happy—nay, ecstatic. [=it did not just make her happy, it made her ecstatic]
2
old-fashioned
: no entry 1
Nay, I do not wish to go.
I dare not say him nay. [=I dare not say no to him]
plural nays
formal
: a no vote
We have 6 nays [=6 votes of "no"] and 12 yeas, so the measure passes.
Cite this Entry
“Nay.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/nay. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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