Word
mary
Phoneticsmary
/ˈmɛɹi/
Definitions
01given name
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a common English name for a woman.
n. a female given name of Aramaic and Hebrew origin, historically one of the most common names in the English-speaking world.
“My grandmother's name was Mary, and she lived in a small village.”
“The registrar noted that Mary remained a consistently popular choice for newborn girls throughout the early twentieth century.”
02religious figure
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Religion
n. the mother of Jesus, often called the Virgin Mary.
n. the mother of Jesus Christ, venerated in Christianity and Islam as a central religious figure.
“Many churches are named after Mary to honour her role in the Bible.”
“The cathedral features a series of stained-glass windows depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary.”
Synonyms
03slang for a man
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Slang · Informal
n. a slang name sometimes used to address or talk about a gay man.
n. a term of address or reference for a male homosexual, often used within the LGBTQ+ community.
“Listen, Mary, you need to stop worrying about what they think.”
“The use of 'Mary' as a campy term of address was a prominent feature of mid-century underground queer subcultures.”
Usage
As a proper noun, it is almost always capitalized.
Etymology
From Middle English Marie, from Old French Marie, from Latin Maria, from Ancient Greek Μαρία (María), Μαριάμ (Mariám), from Aramaic מַרְיָם (maryām) or Biblical Hebrew מִרְיָם (miryām), of uncertain meaning (see the Hebrew entry for more). Doublet of Miriam, Marie, Maria, and Mariah.
From Turkmen Mary.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/mary