ˈhaf-ˈmast 
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-masted; half-masting; half-masts
: to cause to hang at half-mast
half-mast a flag
Examples of half-mast in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jon Haworth, ABC News, 10 Feb. 2025
And Newsom is reportedly directing California to join Republican governors in raising the American flag at the state Capitol, which is at half-mast for the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, to full height on Trump’s inauguration day.
—Julia Mueller, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for half-mast
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
The school Hill attended, Georgia Military College Prep School, flew all flags at half-mast on Monday in honor the student.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 10 Feb. 2025
And Newsom is reportedly directing California to join Republican governors in raising the American flag at the state Capitol, which is at half-mast for the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, to full height on Trump’s inauguration day.
—Julia Mueller, The Hill, 20 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for half-mast
Cite this Entry
“Half-mast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half-mast. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share