Memorial Day

noun

1

: May 30 formerly observed as a legal holiday in most states of the U.S. in remembrance of war dead

2

: the last Monday in May observed as a legal holiday in most states of the U.S.

3

: confederate memorial day

Examples of Memorial Day in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Banks generally close for federal holidays like Labor Day and Memorial Day. —Kelly Tyko, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

This includes New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024

Outside of the holiday shopping season, popular shopping holidays are President's Day, Memorial Day, Amazon Prime Day, and Labor Day, among others. —Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 1 Nov. 2024

The morning of May 26, 1990, the first day of Memorial Day weekend, started like any other Saturday in the family’s affluent South Florida community, where large homes were clustered around a private airport. —Kc Baker, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Memorial Day

noun

1

: May 30 once observed as a legal holiday in honor of those who died in war

2

: the last Monday in May observed as a legal holiday in most states of the U.S.