Juneteenth

noun

June·​teenth ˌjün-ˈtēn(t)th 

: June 19 observed as a legal holiday in the United States in commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S.

Note: The federal name for this holiday according to the United States Code is Juneteenth National Independence Day. It is also called Black Independence Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Juneteenth Independence Day.

Examples of Juneteenth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wright was also involved in mentoring younger students and planning Juneteenth programming throughout Kansas City, and was part of several boards at Faith Mission Church, including the youth ministry. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2025

Before Juneteenth, a Black neighborhood in Plano was on its way to becoming one of the city's most vibrant communities. —Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025

Solid waste collection crews are working on more city holidays this year than in the past, including on Cesar Chavez Day on March 31, Juneteenth on June 19 and Veterans Day on Nov. 11, Kuhn said. —Elliott Wenzler, The Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2025

The proclamation came a day before Miami-Dade offices will close for the county’s fourth annual celebration of Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

blend of June and nineteenth

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Juneteenth

• Juneteenth Independence Day
• Juneteenth National Independence Day

Rhymes for Juneteenth

• seventeenth
• eighteenth
• fifteenth
• fourteenth
• nineteenth
• sixteenth
• thirteenth
• umpteenth

Kids Definition

Juneteenth

noun

June·​teenth

ˌjün-ˈtēn(t)th

: June 19 observed as a legal holiday in the U.S. in commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S.