Mayday

1 of 2

communications signal

May·​day ˈmā-ˌdā How to pronounce Mayday (audio)
—used as a distress call in international radio-telephone communications

May Day

2 of 2

noun

ˈmā-ˌdā How to pronounce May Day (audio)
: May 1 celebrated as a springtime festival and in some countries as Labor Day

Word History

Etymology

Communications signal

French m'aider help me

First Known Use

Communications Signal

1927, in the meaning defined above

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Mayday was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near Mayday

May Day

Mayday

mayden

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Mayday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mayday. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

Mayday

1 of 2
May·​day mā-ˈdā How to pronounce Mayday (audio)
ˈmā-ˌdā
—an international radio signal word used as a distress call

May Day

2 of 2 noun
ˈmā-ˌdā How to pronounce May Day (audio)
: May 1 celebrated as a springtime festival and in some countries as Labor Day

More from Merriam-Webster on Mayday

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Mayday

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