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

The flag-boy battle speaks to a centuries-old story of Black resistance that’s still embodied by the Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans. —Harriet Shepherd, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2025

The storm has already unloaded heavy winds, rain and snow across much of the country, killing two people in Mississippi, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of customers and forcing officials to reschedule Mardi Gras events in New Orleans. —Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2025

On Tuesday afternoon, the severe thunderstorms reach Jackson, Mississippi, and New Orleans as Mardi Gras celebrations culminate in a final day of festivities on Fat Tuesday. —Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2025

Here’s a recipe for Mardi Gras king cake with cream cheese and apple fillings. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, fat Tuesday

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for Mardi Gras

• candlemas
• fiberglass
• fibreglass
• hourglass
• isinglass
• lemongrass
• martinmas
• orchardgrass
• overpass
• plexiglas
• plexiglass
• sassafras

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.