Pronunciation: /ˈmeɪˌdeɪ/

Definitions of mayday

noun a distress signal used by ships and aircraft

Example Sentences

A1 The sailors sent out a mayday call when their boat started sinking.

A2 The pilot radioed a mayday signal when the engine failed mid-flight.

B1 The hikers were rescued after sending a mayday distress signal from the mountain.

B2 The captain declared a mayday emergency when the ship encountered rough seas.

C1 The astronaut transmitted a mayday message from the space station when a critical system failed.

C2 The air traffic controller coordinated a mayday response for the aircraft in distress.

interjection a word used to signal distress or an emergency

Example Sentences

A1 Mayday! I need help!

A2 Mayday! The boat is sinking!

B1 Mayday! We have lost all communication with the control tower.

B2 Mayday! Engine failure, requesting emergency landing.

C1 Mayday! This is Flight 123, declaring an emergency due to severe turbulence.

C2 Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! This is the captain speaking, we are experiencing a total loss of power.

Examples of mayday in a Sentence

formal The pilot issued a mayday signal when the engine failed mid-flight.

informal When the boat started taking on water, we had to call a mayday for help.

slang I heard that party was a total mayday - a disaster from start to finish.

figurative In the midst of chaos, she felt like she was sending out a mayday signal for help.

Grammatical Forms of mayday

past tense

maydayed

plural

maydays

comparative

more mayday

superlative

most mayday

present tense

mayday

future tense

will mayday

perfect tense

have maydayed

continuous tense

is maydaying

singular

mayday

positive degree

mayday

infinitive

to mayday

gerund

maydaying

participle

maydayed

Origin and Evolution of mayday

First Known Use: 1923 year
Language of Origin: French
Story behind the word: The word 'mayday' originates from the French phrase 'm'aider' meaning 'help me'. It was adopted as a distress signal in the early 20th century.
Evolution of the word: Originally used by pilots and mariners to signal a life-threatening emergency, 'mayday' has since become a universally recognized distress call in English-speaking countries and beyond.