half-mast

1 of 2

noun

ˈhaf-ˈmast How to pronounce half-mast (audio)
ˈhäf-
: a point some distance but not necessarily halfway down below the top of a mast or staff or the peak of a gaff

half-mast

2 of 2

verb

half-masted; half-masting; half-masts

transitive verb

: to cause to hang at half-mast
half-mast a flag

Examples of half-mast in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The governor has ordered that flags be flown at half-mast across Minnesota on Monday in honor of the victims. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 18 Feb. 2024 The Margaritaville in Palm Springs lowered its flag to half-mast in honor of Buffett, while a location in Nassau, Bahamas reportedly held a moment of silence for him. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2023 Why Flags Are Flown at Half-Staff United States flags are lowered to half-staff — or half-mast, on a ship — when the nation is in mourning, often following the death of a government official or military member, in the wake of a deadly attack or public tragedy, or on days of national remembrance. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 25 Nov. 2023 Nevertheless, the discoveries helped lead to the creation of a new national holiday in Canada, Truth and Reconciliation Day, according to the National Post Report, while Canadian flags were ordered to be kept at half-mast for a record-breaking five consecutive months. Michael Lee, Fox News, 10 Sep. 2023 Flags around the city are flying at half-mast to mark three days of national mourning announced by the monarchy. Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 10 Sep. 2023 Put your Margaritaville crocs on at half-mast, and unwind. Vulture, 4 Sep. 2023 Half-staff is the preferred form of reference in presidential decrees while half-mast is used outside of the U.S. More:A Marine from Madison and two others were found dead in a car in North Carolina. Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2023 The crew and family members were also being interviewed aboard the Polar Prince, which returned to St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, with its flags at half-mast Saturday. Nouran Salahieh, CNN, 25 June 2023
Verb
Patterson High’s junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps said Izaiah was a cadet, and shared a photo of the school’s flags flying at half-mast Tuesday. Dillon Mullan, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2023 Half-staff is the preferred form of reference in presidential decrees while half-mast is used outside of the U.S. Ridah Syed, Journal Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'half-mast.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1800, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of half-mast was in 1785

Dictionary Entries Near half-mast

Cite this Entry

“Half-mast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half-mast. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

half-mast

noun
ˈhaf-ˈmast,
ˈhȧf-
: a point about halfway down below the top of a mast or staff
flags hanging at half-mast
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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