April

noun

ˈā-prəl 

: the fourth month of the Gregorian calendar

Examples of April in a Sentence

We have had snowstorms the last few Aprils.

The children have a week off from school every April.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French avrill, from Latin Aprilis

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing April

• April fool
• April Fool's Day

Kids Definition

April

noun

ˈā-prəl 

: the 4th month of the year

Etymology

Middle English April "April," from early French avrill and Latin Aprilis (both meaning "April")

Word Origin

The English word April comes from the Latin Aprilis, the name given to the month by the ancient Romans. No one knows for certain why the Romans named it as they did. Some Roman authors thought that Aprilis was related to the Latin verb aperire meaning "to open," because April "opened" the buds of leaves and flowers. A more likely theory is that the name was based on Apru, an Etruscan form of the name of the Greek goddess Aphrodite.