Guy Fawkes Day
noun
: November 5 observed in England in commemoration of the seizure of Guy Fawkes in 1605 for an attempt to blow up the houses of parliament
Examples of Guy Fawkes Day in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Although the tradition was once a version of Guy Fawkes Day, celebrating Australia’s connection to Britain, it was changed in the 1980s to honor the day the territory became a self-governing region.
—
Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 2 July 2023
The episode in which Diana does an explosive interview with the BBC on Guy Fawkes Day includes young Prince William receiving a school tutorial on the Gunpowder Plot and an at-home lecture on the monarchy’s history with television from the Queen Mother.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 5 Nov. 2022
There's also some speculation about whether the poppy should only be worn after Bonfire Night (a British holiday also known as Guy Fawkes Day, celebrated on the 5th of November).
—Katie Robinson, Town & Country, 8 Nov. 2020
Tonight, people in Great Britain will celebrate Guy Fawkes Day with bonfires and elaborate fireworks displays across the country, which is why it's also known as Bonfire Night.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 5 Nov. 2020
Halloween never went away, though the popularity of All Saints’ Day in the United Kingdom waned with the rise of Protestantism and the creation of another fall holiday, Guy Fawkes Day.
—Amber Dance, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2018
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.
Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 2 July 2023
The episode in which Diana does an explosive interview with the BBC on Guy Fawkes Day includes young Prince William receiving a school tutorial on the Gunpowder Plot and an at-home lecture on the monarchy’s history with television from the Queen Mother.
—Daniel D'addario, Variety, 5 Nov. 2022
There's also some speculation about whether the poppy should only be worn after Bonfire Night (a British holiday also known as Guy Fawkes Day, celebrated on the 5th of November).
—Katie Robinson, Town & Country, 8 Nov. 2020
Tonight, people in Great Britain will celebrate Guy Fawkes Day with bonfires and elaborate fireworks displays across the country, which is why it's also known as Bonfire Night.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 5 Nov. 2020
Halloween never went away, though the popularity of All Saints’ Day in the United Kingdom waned with the rise of Protestantism and the creation of another fall holiday, Guy Fawkes Day.
—Amber Dance, Discover Magazine, 29 Oct. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Guy Fawkes Day.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Guy%20Fawkes%20Day. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share