Halloween

noun Hal·low·een \ ˌha-lə-ˈwēn , ˌhä- \

variants: or less commonly Hallowe'en

Definition of Halloween

: October 31 observed especially with dressing up in disguise, trick-or-treating, and displaying jack-o'-lanterns during the evening

See Halloween defined for English-language learners

See Halloween defined for kids

Origin and Etymology of halloween

short for All Hallow Even (All Saints' Eve)

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1700

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Calendar Terms

antedate, estival, gloaming, luster, sesquicentennial

HALLOWEEN Defined for English Language Learners

Halloween

noun

Definition of Halloween for English Language Learners

: the night of October 31 when children dress up as ghosts, witches, monsters, etc., and go to houses to ask for candy

HALLOWEEN Defined for Kids

Halloween

noun Hal·low·een \ ˌha-lə-ˈwēn , ˌhä- \

Definition of Halloween for Students

: October 31 celebrated especially by wearing costumes and trick-or-treating

History for halloween

In the Christian calendar the first day of November is All Saints' Day, which honors all the saints in heaven. The usual earlier name for this day in English was All Hallows Day or All Hallow Day, and the previous evening (October 31) was called All Hallows Eve or All Hallow Even. (The word hallow, related to holy, meant “saint.”) In Scotland All Hallow Even was contracted to Hallow-e’en, now spelled Halloween.