Mardi Gras

noun

Mar·​di Gras ˈmär-dē-ˌgrä How to pronounce Mardi Gras (audio)
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
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.
But the sight of National Guard troops was not unusual in New Orleans, where troops had already been deployed briefly to bolster security for the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras earlier that year. — Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Kiosks have sold beer at the National Mall over the years, as has the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which served Abita Mardi Gras, Corona Refresca and DC Brau's Belgian pale ale in 2025. — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026 Back in the Big Easy, that victory ignited cathartic, rapturous celebrations and set the stage for a victory parade as wild and well-attended as any held during Mardi Gras. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026 And for families attending the game together, Gulfstream Park Village offers family-friendly spaces including the Mardi Gras Village area and open-air plazas where children can stretch their legs while parents relax. — Taylor Haught, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for Mardi Gras

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, fat Tuesday

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of Mardi Gras was in 1699

Rhymes for Mardi Gras

See All Rhymes for Mardi Gras

Browse Nearby Words

Mar del Plata
Mardi Gras
mare
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mardi Gras.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mardi%20Gras. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Mardi Gras

noun
Mar·​di Gras ˈmärd-ē-ˌgrä How to pronounce Mardi Gras (audio)
: 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.

More from Merriam-Webster on Mardi Gras

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Mardi Gras

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