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Definition of mandalay
mandalay
/ˌmændəˈleɪ/
Man · da · lay
mandalay Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
9
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A major city and former royal capital in central Myanmar (Burma), situated on the eastern bank of the Irrawaddy River, known as the cultural and religious center of Buddhism in the country.
Example
"We spent three days exploring the ancient temples and bustling jade markets of Mandalay."
2
A literary symbol of the exotic East in Western literature, famously popularized by Rudyard Kipling's poem 'Mandalay' (1890).
Example
"In Kipling's famous poem, a British soldier nostalgically longs for the road to Mandalay."
• Rhymes for mandalay
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named after the nearby Mandalay Hill. The name is believed to derive either from the Pali word 'mandala' (meaning 'circular plains') or 'Mandara', a legendary mountain in Hindu mythology.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mandalay. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mandalay