Columbus Day

noun

Co·​lum·​bus Day kə-ˈləm-bəs- 

1

: October 12 formerly observed as a legal holiday in many states of the U.S. in commemoration of the landing of Columbus in the Bahamas in 1492

2

: the second Monday in October observed as a legal holiday in many states of the U.S.

Examples of Columbus Day in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

State of play: Neither Indigenous Peoples Day nor Columbus Day is an official holiday in Texas, which is why state offices weren't closed Monday. —Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024

And while the second Monday in October has historically been celebrated as Columbus Day and is still federally recognized as such, many have pushed for moving away from the holiday to acknowledge the atrocities Columbus committed against people living in the Americas long before his arrival. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 14 Oct. 2024

The alternative to Columbus Day recognizes the contributions and legacy of those who lived here long before Christopher Columbus erroneously claimed to have discovered America. —Alexandra Banner, CNN, 14 Oct. 2024

Are federal and state government offices open Columbus Day? —John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Columbus Day

noun

Co·​lum·​bus Day kə-ˈləm-bəs- 

: the second Monday in October observed as a legal holiday in many states of the U.S. in honor of the landing of Columbus in the Bahamas in 1492