mayor
Americannoun
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the chief executive official, usually elected, of a city, village, or town.
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the chief magistrate of a city or borough.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of mayor
First recorded in 1250–1300; from Medieval Latin major major; replacing Middle English mer, mair, from Old French maire
Explanation
The mayor is the leader of a city. He or she heads the city government. Just as a president leads a country, a mayor leads a city. Like other politicians, mayors must run for office and win an election. The word mayor comes from the Old French maire for "head of a city or town government" but most mayors probably like the original meaning, which is "greater, superior." Alas, mayors do run cities but calling them all superior is a stretch! In the United States, the president leads the country, a governor leads a state, and a mayor leads a city. If it’s used as a title for a particular mayor, as in Mayor Smith, it’s capitalized.
Vocabulary lists containing mayor
Citizenship (Civics) - Middle School
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Citizenship (Civics) - Introductory
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American Government and Civics, List 2
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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.
Deputy Mayor Rick Cole, who served in the administration of Eric Garcetti, pins some of Bass’ problems on choices she made early in her administration.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026
Edgemont Mayor Rheta Reagan said she was unsure whether being on the road to the complex was a boon for her city.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
Nithya Raman paused when the question came during a debate with Mayor Karen Bass in Sherman Oaks.
From Los Angeles Times • May 26, 2026
"This was a complex, fast-developing emergency situation," New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said during a news conference on Friday evening.
From BBC • May 23, 2026
Finally, just as rain began to fall, the crowd launched into a chant demanding that Mayor Grabarek come out and receive a list of demands.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
