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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OghW71OSWTM/+18vgx3fPJly3N0YMTj8J7f3CN0ewfgidZizZA9zuVQoYRFbi6IB
 Em0tf5xHHRtmg4Q7Q9WMnA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000063416-03-000128.txt : 20031125
<SEC-HEADER>0000063416-03-000128.hdr.sgml : 20031125
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031125123011
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000063416-03-000128
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031124
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031125

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WOLFE R DEAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184645

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00079
		FILM NUMBER:		031022507

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MAY DEPARTMENT STORES CO
		STREET 2:		611 OLIVE ST STE 1750
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3143426423

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAY DEPARTMENT STORES CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000063416
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-DEPARTMENT STORES [5311]
		IRS NUMBER:				431104396
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0201

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		611 OLIVE ST
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3143426300
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-24</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000063416</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MAY DEPARTMENT STORES CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MAY</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184645</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOLFE R DEAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE MAY DEPARTMENT STORES COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>611 OLIVE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-24</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>16500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>30.00</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>152272</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwner
ship><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common </value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>30.30</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>149772</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common</value></securityTitle
><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>21075</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by wife</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>R. Dean Wolfe</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-25</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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