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

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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.
My father attended the Queens Memorial Day parade, while my mother, a lifelong writer, wrote promotional copy for their synagogue’s dinner to honor their longtime cantor’s retirement. — Rachel Sales, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 That date usually falls on Memorial Day weekend, though 2027 is an exception. — Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026 On Memorial Day, 1927, when Fred was twenty-one, he was arrested for refusing to disperse during a violent confrontation between police and a band of white-hooded Klansmen in Queens; he was released shortly after. — Kai Bird, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 On Memorial Day, the Seminoles were on death's front door with a recruiting class that was ranked in the 50s and not a single four-star to their name. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Memorial Day

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Memorial Day was in 1868

Rhymes for Memorial Day

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Browse Nearby Words

memorial arch
Memorial Day
memorialise
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Cite this Entry

“Memorial Day.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Memorial%20Day. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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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.

More from Merriam-Webster on Memorial Day

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Memorial Day

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