noun / interjection

nay

NAY/nˈeɪ/

A response or vote expressing refusal or disagreement.

The council member gives a clear nay during the formal vote.

A council member gives an unmistakably negative response during a formal show-of-hands vote: seated upright at a meeting table, he raises a clear thumbs-down gesture toward the chairperson, with firmly closed lips and a slight rejecting turn of his head.

Etymology

Nay comes from a Scandinavian negative such as Old Norse nei, combining 'not' and 'ever.' The compound served as a direct refusal or negative reply, the function retained in formal voting.

In context

ORCA Media154:04

any further discussion if not all those in favor of the motion please signify by saying aye aye any opposed please signify by saying nay

Green Mountain Care Board - March 30, 2022 Part 2 [GMCB]

More examples

The nays outnumbered the yeas.
Nay, I cannot agree to that proposal.
Her nay prevented a unanimous decision.

Forms

nay · nays

Similar words

no: The ordinary negative response rather than a formal voting term.
negative: A negative is a formal rejection rather than the traditional spoken response nay.