lei
1 Americannoun
plural
leisnoun
noun
noun
Etymology
Origin of lei
Borrowed into English from Hawaiian around 1835–45
Explanation
In Hawaii, a sweet-smelling garland of flowers is called a lei. Traditional hula dancers often wear elaborate leis made of ferns, leaves, and blossoms. Leis are such an important part of Hawaiian culture that May 1 is known as "Lei Day" and is celebrated across all the islands. It's also customary to give leis to special guests, brides and grooms, funeral mourners, retirees, and people celebrating birthdays. The custom extends to other parts of Polynesia, including Samoa and Tahiti. The Hawaiian root of lei means "ornament worn about the neck or head."
Vocabulary lists containing lei
The House Swap
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Dragonfruit
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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.
He added a bookshelf, filling it with items, such as Daniel’s boyhood rock collection and a lei from their trip to Maui.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2025
In return he promised monthly top-up payments of 5,000 Moldovan lei to pensioners, or about £200.
From BBC • Oct. 19, 2024
“It doesn’t get any better than this,” he once said on a broadcast, tie-dyed T-shirt on, a Hawaiian lei around his neck.
From Seattle Times • May 27, 2024
Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu draped lei on the fence.
From Washington Times • Oct. 25, 2023
Wearing the traditional crisp white barong shirt and often sporting a lei of flowers, he looked fit and handsome and was always smiling.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
