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Definition of cay

cay

/kiː/
cay
Plural:cays
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cay Lexical Profile

cay Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A low, small, sandy island or bank formed on the surface of a coral reef, found especially in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Barrier Reef.

Example

"The marine biologists anchored their boat near an uninhabited coral cay to observe the nesting sea turtles."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for cay

Word Nuance & Usage

Although spelled 'cay', the word is traditionally pronounced /kiː/ (like 'key') in the Caribbean and North America, though /keɪ/ is also common in Australia and elsewhere. It is an orthographic variant of 'key' (as in the Florida Keys).

• Rhymes for cay

• Nearby Words

cavy
caw
cawesh
cay
cayambe
cayenne
caymans

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 17th century from Spanish 'cayo' (shoal or reef), which in turn comes from Taíno 'cairi' (island), an indigenous Arawakan language of the Caribbean.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cay. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cay
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