Mayday
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of Mayday
First recorded in 1925–30; from French (venez) m'aider “(come) help me,” contraction of m(e) “me” ( see also me ( def. )) aider “to help” ( see aid ( def. ))
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.
Afterward the beau monde had a few days to find new costumes for the Monday Mayday masquerade.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
In “The Testaments,” Lucy Halliday stars as Daisy, a new Pearl Girl who is really an undercover spy for Mayday.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026
In late January, after Mayday countersued in a federal court in New York, that court temporarily blocked South Dakota’s actions.
From Salon ● Feb. 9, 2026
Mayday, known for their "positive rock music", are among the most successful Taiwanese acts in mainland China.
From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2023
Mayday used to be a distress signal, a long time ago, in one of those wars we studied in high school.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.