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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M2) $549.00 at Amazon $599.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Ahead of Black Friday, the new iPad Air is on sale for its best price yet. Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024 There are a number of events running concurrently with the skate rink, including Flashback Fridays with Classic Hits 103.7 radio station personalities playing hits from the 1980s; classical music on lazy Sunday mornings and a Black Friday dance party to burn off those Thanksgiving calories. Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 Redditors who have received the emails say the offer ends on November 14th, just before Black Friday. Janhoi McGregor, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 China’s version of Black Friday kicked off on Oct. 14, more than a week earlier than last year, as e-commerce players Alibaba and JD.com grapple with tepid consumer spending. Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Black Friday 

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Black Friday was in 1961

Dictionary Entries Near Black Friday

Cite this Entry

“Black Friday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Black%20Friday. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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