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
Recent Examples on the Web
Check out our favorite pre–Black Friday Dyson deals and clothing sales, here.
—
Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 17 Oct. 2025
All stores will reopen the following day on Black Friday.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
The fumbled-snap win over the Raiders last year kicked off at 2 p.m. on Black Friday.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
China is entering its busiest shopping season of the year akin to Black Friday: the Nov. 11 Singles Day promotional period.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Black Friday
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.
Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 17 Oct. 2025
All stores will reopen the following day on Black Friday.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
The fumbled-snap win over the Raiders last year kicked off at 2 p.m. on Black Friday.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
China is entering its busiest shopping season of the year akin to Black Friday: the Nov. 11 Singles Day promotional period.
—Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 15 Oct. 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 23 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share