<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000061138</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MACDERMID INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MRD</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208024</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SIEGMUND MICHAEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 JOFRAN LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>1</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText>Divisional President</otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable>
<nonDerivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
</transactionCoding>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>737</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
<nonDerivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
</transactionCoding>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>Trust for Child</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
<nonDerivativeTransaction>
<securityTitle>
<value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate>
<value>2003-12-31</value>
</transactionDate>
<deemedExecutionDate>
</deemedExecutionDate>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionTimeliness>
<value></value>
</transactionTimeliness>
<transactionAmounts>
<transactionShares>
<value>1005</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare>
<footnoteId id="F1"/>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
<value>A</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>9732</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value>ERISA Plan</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable>
<derivativeHolding>
<securityTitle>
<value>Employee Stock Option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>0</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<transactionCoding>
<transactionFormType></transactionFormType>
</transactionCoding>
<exerciseDate>
<value>2003-12-31</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate>
<value>2003-12-31</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity>
<underlyingSecurityTitle>
<value>0</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares>
<value>0</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts>
<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
<value>85000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature>
<directOrIndirectOwnership>
<value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership>
<value></value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
<footnote id="F1">Market</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>
<ownerSignature>
<signatureName>Michael Siegmund</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2004-01-20</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

