Black Friday
noun
US
: the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving Day that is considered by retailers to mark the beginning of the holiday shopping season
Note: The origin of Black Friday in this sense is not known for certain. The day was allegedly so named either in reference to traffic congestion in central cities on the day after Thanksgiving or to the supposed fact that retailers' accounts shifted from red to black with the beginning of the shopping season.
Examples of Black Friday in a Sentence
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Businesses can also use email and SMS to introduce new products, warn of low inventory, announce sales on Black Friday and build retargeting campaigns synced to social media, helping to keep sales increasing.
—
Rytis Lauris, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Wait until Black Friday rolls around to invest in a plush, fleece outfit—and grab a matching set that’s just as cozy without being suffocating.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2025
The Wayfair Labor Day sale ranks high on our list of annual shopping holidays (alongside Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday).
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 25 Aug. 2025
The Black Friday slot is likely to stay for the foreseeable future.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
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Rytis Lauris, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Wait until Black Friday rolls around to invest in a plush, fleece outfit—and grab a matching set that’s just as cozy without being suffocating.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2025
The Wayfair Labor Day sale ranks high on our list of annual shopping holidays (alongside Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday).
—Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 25 Aug. 2025
The Black Friday slot is likely to stay for the foreseeable future.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Black Friday
Cite this Entry
“Black Friday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Black%20Friday. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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