: a wreath or necklace usually of flowers or leaves

lei

2 of 2

noun (2)

plural of leu

the basic monetary unit of Moldova and Romania see Money Table

Examples of lei in a Sentence

Noun (1) we were presented with flowery leis as soon as we stepped off the plane in Hawaii
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
On property, the infinity pool, organic farm, and cultural offerings such as lei making are all top notch. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2025 With an emphasis on the outdoors, the club immerses kids and tweens ages three to 12 in Hawaiian culture, with activities such as lei making, koi fish feeding, and shell combing on the property’s private beach. Gina Kramer, USA TODAY, 28 Dec. 2024 In the post, the model, 39, shared a pair of photos of herself floating on a surfboard, wearing a pink floral lei and a bikini that showed off her growing bump. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 29 Sep. 2024 In June, the lei was officially passed to Catherine Laga'aia, who will portray Moana in the upcoming live-action film — a move that Cravalho, who will serve as an executive producer, cheered. Melissah Yang, refinery29.com, 4 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for lei

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Hawaiian

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lei was in 1843

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lei.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lei. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

lei

noun
ˈlā,
ˈla-ˌē
: a wreath or necklace usually of flowers
Etymology

Noun

Hawaiian

More from Merriam-Webster on lei

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!