Ash Wednesday

noun

: the first day of Lent

Examples of Ash Wednesday in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Mardi Gras season officially begins January 6 on Twelfth Night and runs through the day before Ash Wednesday. Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 2 June 2026 Held annually in the days before Ash Wednesday, Rio Carnival is the biggest carnival in the world. Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026 Communion was finally permitted to be brought into the Broadview facility in February on Ash Wednesday, under a preliminary injunction following a lengthy legal battle. Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026 Carnival kicks off the Sunday prior to Ash Wednesday here, and this month-long season is marked by two main parades, the Gran Marcha and the Marcha di Despedida (The Farewell March). Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Ash Wednesday

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Ash Wednesday was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ash Wednesday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ash%20Wednesday. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

Ash Wednesday

noun
: the first day of Lent

More from Merriam-Webster on Ash Wednesday

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster