: a low island or reef of sand or coral

Examples of cay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Consisting of more than 60 mountainous islands, along with mysterious cays and uninhabited islets, the destination is home to awe-inspiring hikes, succulent seafood, and world-renowned boating. AFAR Media, 22 May 2025 Bequia is the gateway to the 32 islands and cays that comprise the Grenadines, so a trip to the island isn't complete with taking to the seas. Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025 The Florida Keys—an archipelago of coral cays stretching from just north of Key Largo all the way south to Key West—are not known for their bountiful beaches, which comes as a surprise to most visitors. Terry Ward, Outside Online, 19 Jan. 2025 The unspoiled cays are home to a national marine park, where visitors can snorkel with sea turtles. Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 17 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for cay

Word History

Etymology

Spanish cayo — more at key

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cay was in 1707

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Cite this Entry

“Cay.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cay. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

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