jay
1[ jey ]
/ dʒeɪ /
Save This Word!
noun
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
Origin of jay
11275–35; Middle English jai<Middle French <Late Latin gāius, gāia, perhaps after Latin Gāius man's name
Words nearby jay
Definition for jay (2 of 3)
jay2
[ jey ]
/ dʒeɪ /
noun Slang.
a marijuana cigarette.
Origin of jay
21970–75; probably spelling of initial consonant of joint, perhaps suggested by Pig Latin version ointjay
Definition for jay (3 of 3)
Jay
[ jey ]
/ dʒeɪ /
noun
John, 1745–1829, U.S. statesman and jurist: first chief justice of the U.S. 1789–95.
a male given name.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for jay
British Dictionary definitions for jay (1 of 2)
jay
/ (dʒeɪ) /
noun
any of various passerine birds of the family Corvidae (crows), esp the Eurasian Garrulus glandarius, with a pinkish-brown body, blue-and-black wings, and a black-and-white crestSee also blue jay
a foolish or gullible person
Word Origin for jay
C13: from Old French jai, from Late Latin gāius, perhaps from proper name Gāius
British Dictionary definitions for jay (2 of 2)
Jay
/ (dʒeɪ) /
noun
John 1745–1829, American statesman, jurist, and diplomat; first chief justice of the Supreme Court (1789–95). He negotiated the treaty with Great Britain (Jay's treaty, 1794), that settled outstanding disputes
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012