nay
Americanadverb
-
and not only so but; not only that but also; indeed.
many good, nay, noble qualities.
-
Archaic. no (used in dissent, denial, or refusal).
noun
-
a denial or refusal.
-
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:
On Tuesday the House and Senate passed the Epstein files bill with only one nay vote.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 19, 2025
It’s not easy, but it’s possible — nay, necessary.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2025
Altogether, the Gaza branch of the Conservatory used to have more than 400 instruments - both Western classical ones and traditional Arabic instruments such as the oud, qanun and nay, a type of flute.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2024
She looked mostly like this while saying it — eyes askance, either pre-or-post hand on chin — a vibe, nay, a mood that she carried throughout most of the debate.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2024
“I want to register my nay vote, even though the two of you always win.”
From "The Darkest Minds" by Alexandra Bracken
“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
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
“On this vote, the yeas are 53, the nays are 47,” Harris said.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 7, 2022
Thus a member may move to adjourn or to take a recess and ask that the roll be called and the yeas and nays on the question be entered upon the journal.
From Government in the United States National, State and Local by Garner, James Wilford
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.
