January

noun

Jan·​u·​ary ˈjan-yə-ˌwer-ē 

-ˌwe-rē

plural Januaries or Januarys

: the first month of the Gregorian calendar

Examples of January in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This exception is repealed as of January 1, 2025 with respect to digital replicas and provides for civil damages equal to the greater of (a) $10,000 and (b) actual damages, unless the digital replica is used in connection with one of the following that are intended to track the First Amendment: a. —Schuyler Moore, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2024

Donahoe has been Nike’s top executive since January 2020 and has been overseeing a broad restructuring effort after Nike shifted its strategy to sell directly to consumers. —Sara Salinas, CNBC, 20 Sep. 2024

The fight over Big Tech’s role in the decline of local news will continue next year in Sacramento: After Newsom presents his budget in January, advocates will pack hearings again as legislators grapple over state funding. —Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2024

The agency concluded in its January report that the NHTSA knows this information but has no plans to do more research into what can be done to improve the rate. —Matthew Dolan, USA TODAY, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Januarie, from Latin Januarius, 1st month of the ancient Roman year, from Janus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

January

noun

Jan·​u·​ary ˈjan-yə-ˌwer-ē 

: the first month of the year

Etymology

from Latin Januarius "first month of the year," from Janus, a Roman god

Word Origin

Among the many gods worshipped by the ancient Romans was one named Janus. He was believed to have two faces, one looking forward and one looking back. Janus was associated with doors, gates, and all beginnings. Because of that, when the Romans changed their calendar and added two months to the beginning of the year, they named the first one Januarius to honor Janus. The English January comes from Latin Januarius.