Juneteenth

noun

June·​teenth ˌjün-ˈtēn(t)th 

: June 19 observed as a legal holiday in the United States in commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S.

Note: The federal name for this holiday according to the United States Code is Juneteenth National Independence Day. It is also called Black Independence Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Juneteenth Independence Day.

Examples of Juneteenth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The dedication will kick off the grand opening weekend festivities over the Juneteenth weekend, June 19-21. — Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 17 June 2026

The lawsuit alleges that the situation escalated in June 2025 when Lowe asked whether the writers’ room would observe Juneteenth. — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026

Corey Williams, the DEI consultant, didn't grow up celebrating Juneteenth. — Jennifer Rosen Heinz, Parents, 17 June 2026

The sizzling heat sticks around Friday for Juneteenth as highs remain in the low 90s and feels like temperatures continue in the 100s. — Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 17 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

blend of June and nineteenth

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Juneteenth

• Juneteenth Independence Day
• Juneteenth National Independence Day

Rhymes for Juneteenth

• seventeenth
• eighteenth
• fifteenth
• fourteenth
• nineteenth
• sixteenth
• thirteenth
• umpteenth

Kids Definition

Juneteenth

noun

June·​teenth ˌjün-ˈtēn(t)th 

: June 19 observed as a legal holiday in the U.S. in commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S.