October

noun

Oc·​to·​ber äk-ˈtō-bər 

: the 10th month of the Gregorian calendar

Examples of October in a Sentence

She started her job in early October.

He started early in October.

This will be our last October in New England.

Sales are up for this October.

The event happens every October.

Recent Examples on the Web

Most recently, Amazon held its Big Spring Sale in March 2025, and before that had Prime Big Deal Days in October 2024. —Clara McMahon, People.com, 11 May 2025

The program will include a collection of videos on several short topics, from alternative ways to deal with the October end-of-service for Windows 10, to remarks on safety of free email and other software. BVCC provides various services for its members, including classes and help clinics. —Deb Harvell, Arkansas Online, 11 May 2025

Developers submitted 20 applications from October 2024 through April; 56 applications from October 2023 through the end of September 2024; 46 applications from October 2022 through the end of September 2023; and 46 applications from October 2021 through the end of September 2022. —Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2025

Read the full Virgo Daily Horoscope Libra (September 23 - October 22) Holding yourself to a higher standard? —Usa Today, USA Today, 11 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Octobre, from Old English & Anglo-French; Old English October, from Latin, 8th month of the early Roman calendar, from octo; Anglo-French, from Latin October

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing October

• October surprise

Rhymes for October

• sober
• tober

Kids Definition

October

noun

Oc·​to·​ber äk-ˈtō-bər 

: the tenth month of the year

Etymology

Middle English October, Octobre "the tenth month," from Old English October and early French octobre (both, same meaning), both from Latin October "the eighth month," from octo "eight"

Word Origin

According to its origin, the name October, which we know as the tenth month of the year, really means "eighth month." In the first calendar used in ancient Rome, the year had only ten months, starting in March and ending in December. The extra period between December and March was not considered part of the series of months. Later, when two extra months were added to the calendar, October became the tenth month but kept its old name. The Latin name came into Old English as october and into early French as octobre. It was spelled both ways in Middle English. But in time the influence of Latin fixed the spelling as october.