nay
Americanadverb
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and not only so but; not only that but also; indeed.
many good, nay, noble qualities.
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Archaic. no (used in dissent, denial, or refusal).
noun
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nays
plural
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a denial or refusal.
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a negative vote or voter.
noun
adverb
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of nay
1125–75; Middle English nai, nei < Old Norse nei no, contraction of ne not + ei ever; see na, ay 1
Explanation
A nay is a "no" or "negative" vote. If you vote nay during your club's vote, you are voting against the proposal. If your teacher holds a vote on whether to have a pizza party instead of a geometry quiz, it's unlikely anyone will vote nay. Long ago, the word nay was simply used as a substitute for "no," but it sounds odd today: "Nay, I don't need any ketchup with my fries." You can use it, however, to mean "this word is more appropriate," as when you say, "I'm upset, nay furious, that you forgot my birthday."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Congress is crying out for a dedicated White House ambassador—someone who can be trusted to speak for the president, to yea or nay ideas, to shuttle proposals, to wrangle rebels in line.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
While her affection for Kermit is true, the great joke of their affair is that he’s often portrayed as tolerating her instead of providing the full worship she demands – nay, deserves.
From Salon ● Feb. 28, 2026
On one vote, Lindsey Graham, distracted in conversation with Cory Booker, voted aye when he meant to vote nay.
From Slate ● Apr. 19, 2024
The party did not hold a vote when its officers met last week, but it had initially been described to BBC News NI by one source as a "yay or nay" meeting.
From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2024
But Saruman said nay, and repeated what he had said to us before: that the One would never again be found in Middle-earth.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
“With 18 ayes and 11 nays, House Bill 4 has finally passed,” Patrick said, striking the gavel one last time.
From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2025
He drew vocal reactions — yeas and nays, amens and laughs – from the friendly room.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 11, 2024
Feijoo will need the support of 176 lawmakers out of the lower house's 350 deputies to clinch the premiership, or, failing that, a simple majority of more yeas than nays in a second vote.
From Reuters ● Aug. 22, 2023
Sitting in the gallery that overlooks the Senate floor, lobbyists pulled out ballpoint pens to track the yeas and nays.
From New York Times ● Nov. 20, 2022
A second attempt to pass it was made in the House on February 1, 1865, this time successfully, the yeas being 119 and the nays, 56.
From The Life of Lyman Trumbull by Horace White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
