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

Last year, severe thunderstorms roared through the central and eastern US — including Arkansas — and produced dozens of tornadoes during Memorial Day weekend. —Mary Gilbert, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025

Opening day is scheduled for May 23, the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. —Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025

Coincidentally, Meyer asked for an ice-cold bottle of buttermilk to quench his thirst after 500-miles of racing on a hot Memorial Day in Indiana. —Bruce Martin, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025

The Visitor’s Center and Museum are closed for winter but will re-open for the regular season, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Memorial Day to Veterans Day. —Pamela Brown, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Memorial Day

• andromache
• bioassay
• cabriolet
• cercariae
• communique
• companionway
• compositae
• decussate
• examinee
• fabaceae
• glyphosate
• microarray

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.