Independence Day

noun

: a civil holiday for the celebration of the anniversary of the beginnings of national independence

specifically : July 4 observed as a legal holiday in the U.S. in commemoration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776

Examples of Independence Day in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s because the Minions and Gru have ruled the Independence Day frame for quite some time, most recently with Despicable Me 4 minting a $230M global opening last summer. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2025

The only blackout dates for this promotion are Independence Day weekend, from July 5 to July 7. —Stella Shon, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2025

Smith rose to fame as a rapper and star of the ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and became one of the world’s biggest movie stars, doing films such as Independence Day (1996) and Men in Black (1997). —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Jan. 2025

His additional film credits include Speed, Independence Day, Enemy of the State, and 2023's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1791, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Independence Day

noun

: a holiday celebrating the beginnings of a nation's independence

especially : July 4 observed as a legal holiday in the U.S. in honor of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776