# Mayo

/ˈmeɪoʊ/ (US) · /mˈeɪəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mayo
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. mayonnaise

noun · CEFR A2 · Informal

a short way of saying mayonnaise, the thick white sauce used in sandwiches and salads.

For teachers: a clipping of mayonnaise. Uncountable when referring to the substance; countable when referring to a serving or variety.

- Do you want some mayo on your chicken sandwich?
- The chef prepared a homemade garlic mayo to accompany the fries, insisting that the bottled version lacked the necessary acidity.

### 2. Irish county

noun · CEFR B2

a large county located on the west coast of Ireland.

For teachers: a county of Ireland located in the province of Connacht. Always capitalized as a proper noun.

- My grandmother grew up on a small farm in Mayo before moving to Dublin.
- The rugged coastline of Mayo attracts thousands of tourists annually, many of whom come to hike Croagh Patrick.

### 3. white person

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

a rude or insulting word for a white person.

For teachers: a derogatory ethnic slur directed at white people. Used primarily in specific online subcultures to imply a lack of culture or flavor.

- He was offended when someone used the word mayo to describe him online.
- The moderator banned the user for repeatedly using 'mayo' as a racial epithet during the heated political debate.

### 4. exaggeration

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Dialect · Informal

extra details added to a story to make it sound more exciting than it really is.

For teachers: an informal term for exaggeration or the addition of false details to a narrative. Often used in the phrase 'a bit of mayo'.

- I think he's putting a bit of mayo on that story about catching a giant fish.
- While the core of his report was accurate, the inspector suspected the witness had added some mayo to the account of the confrontation.

## Examples

- I always put extra mayo on my turkey sandwich.
- The waiter brought a small dish of garlic mayo to go with the hot chips we ordered.
- While traditional recipes require whisking the oil by hand, most modern kitchens use a blender to emulsify the mayo into a stable, velvety consistency.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.