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

Recent Examples on the Web

The Arizona state website outlines those days as: Memorial Day, when the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. —Shelby Slade, The Arizona Republic, 21 Dec. 2024

Just under an acre of land is at your disposal, with a flat seaside yard to host your backyard shindigs from Memorial Day to Labor Day — or as long as the weather allows. —Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2024

Saturday is Homeless Persons' Memorial Day — an opportunity to remember our unhoused neighbors who have died. —Jessica Boehm, Axios, 20 Dec. 2024

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday Monday, Feb. 17: Washington's Birthday, also known as Presidents Day Monday, May 26: Memorial Day Friday, July 4: Fourth of July Monday, Sept. 1: Labor Day Monday, Oct. 13: Columbus Day, known as Indigenous Peoples Day What are the federal holidays in 2025? —Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Courier-Journal, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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.