Mardi Gras

noun

Mar·​di Gras ˈmär-dē-ˌgrä 

 in New Orleans commonly  -ˌgrȯ

1

a

: Shrove Tuesday often observed (as in New Orleans) with parades and festivities

b

: a carnival period climaxing on Shrove Tuesday

2

: a festive occasion resembling a pre-Lenten Mardi Gras

Examples of Mardi Gras in a Sentence

We're going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.

It was a Mardi Gras to remember!

Recent Examples on the Web

New Orleans is best known for its music, food, and the popular Mardi Gras festival. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2024

Backstreet Cultural Museum The Backstreet Cultural Museum holds the world’s most comprehensive collection related to New Orleans’s African American community traditions, including Mardi Gras Indians, jazz funerals, social aid and pleasure clubs, Baby Dolls, and Skull and Bone gangs. —Jaha Nailah Avery, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 June 2024

Krewe Origin: Unknown Meaning: Krewe is defined as a private organization that organizes festivities during Mardi Gras in New Orleans, according to Merriam-Webster. —Anna Halkidis, Parents, 20 June 2024

Among recent vessels to call on Port Canaveral in their first year of sailing have been Wonder of the Seas, Norwegian Prima, Disney Wish and Carnival’s Mardi Gras. —Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, fat Tuesday

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

Mardi Gras

noun

Mar·​di Gras ˈmärd-ē-ˌgrä 

: the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday often observed with parades and merrymaking

Etymology

French, literally "fat Tuesday"

Word Origin

The Christian period of fasting known as Lent begins every year on Ash Wednesday. The day before Lent begins is a time of celebration and feasting in many places. One of the original reasons for such feasting was probably to use up the last supplies of foods, such as meat and fat, which were not eaten during Lent. The eating of such foods may be why the day became known in France as Mardi Gras, which means "fat Tuesday." It is also possible that the name comes from a former custom of parading a fattened ox through Paris on this day.