Black Friday

noun

US

: the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving Day that is considered by retailers to mark the beginning of the holiday shopping season

Note: The origin of Black Friday in this sense is not known for certain. The day was allegedly so named either in reference to traffic congestion in central cities on the day after Thanksgiving or to the supposed fact that retailers' accounts shifted from red to black with the beginning of the shopping season.

Examples of Black Friday in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the post-election influx proved to be of a different order, turning Bluesky into what one tech blogger compared to a Macy’s at the start of Black Friday sales. —Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025

Riley also developed, launched and led the first Black Friday Football game in 2023 and oversaw Prime Video’s launch and production of the National Women’s Soccer League. —Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 4 Apr. 2025

New hires can experience Black Friday crowd scenarios or manage difficult customer interactions before ever stepping into a store. —Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Join the Ugg Rewards loyalty program for extra cash back, and an early access to the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. —Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Black Friday

• untidy
• tidy

Kids Definition

Black Friday

noun

: the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving that is considered by some retailers to mark the beginning of the holiday shopping season