Halloween

noun

Hal·​low·​een ˌha-lə-ˈwēn  ˌhä- 

variants or less commonly Hallowe'en

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

Examples of Halloween in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The movie marks Chabert's 16th Christmas movie to debut during the network's Countdown to Christmas — which is also celebrating its 16th year — and her 43rd Hallmark movie overall (after the debut of No. 42, Haul Out the Halloween, this fall). —Breanne L. Heldman, People.com, 20 July 2025

Or did someone take your Spider-Gwen Halloween costume too seriously? —Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 20 July 2025

Several commented that the Halloween bug can grab you at times other than chilly fall days and the store fed that need. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2025

The scary attraction will have a new location for Halloween 2025: Fear Farm is moving out of Glendale. —Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 18 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

short for All Hallow Even (All Saints' Eve)

First Known Use

circa 1700, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Halloween

• acrolein
• adenine
• alkylene
• aniline
• anthracene
• aquiline
• asphaltene
• atlantean
• atrazine
• butadiene
• butylene
• caesarean

Kids Definition

Halloween

noun

Hal·​low·​een ˌhal-ə-ˈwēn  ˌhäl- 

: October 31 celebrated especially by wearing costumes, trick-or-treating, and displaying jack-o'-lanterns

Etymology

an altered form of All Hallow Even, the eve of All Saints' Day

Word Origin

Modern-day Christians know the first of November as All Saints' Day. In the Middle Ages it was called All Hallow Day. This was a hallowed or holy day celebrated in honor of all the saints in heaven. Since November 1 was a special holy day with a special name, the day before it had a special name as well. October 31 was called All Hallow Eve or All Hallow Even. The words eve and even were used both for the evening and the day before a special day. This name was sometimes written All Hallow E'en and later shortened to Halloween.