Black Friday

noun

US
: the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving Day that is considered by retailers to mark the beginning of the holiday shopping season

Note: The origin of Black Friday in this sense is not known for certain. The day was allegedly so named either in reference to traffic congestion in central cities on the day after Thanksgiving or to the supposed fact that retailers' accounts shifted from red to black with the beginning of the shopping season.

Examples of Black Friday in a Sentence

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.
Best Black Friday Clothing Deals of 2024—The Designer Deals Have Arrived Early! Irene Kim, Vogue, 20 Nov. 2024 Our Place Wonder Oven On Sale 25% off $149 Buy Now With Black Friday right around the corner, the Our Place Wonder Oven is currently on sale for $50 off the original price, bringing it down from nearly $200 to $150. Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 19 Nov. 2024 Read ahead to find all of our favorite early Wayfair’s Black Friday sale deals and get your home decor refreshed and ready for the holiday season and beyond. Will Porter, Architectural Digest, 19 Nov. 2024 Thankfully, some of the best quality and affordable artificial Christmas trees are part of Wayfair’s early Black Friday sale. Kelsey Fredricks, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Black Friday 

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Black Friday was in 1961

Dictionary Entries Near Black Friday

Cite this Entry

“Black Friday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Black%20Friday. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Black Friday

noun
: the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving that is considered by some retailers to mark the beginning of the holiday shopping season
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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