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

Other activities engage residents as well. Bruner, president of the Hollywood Elementary School PTA, helped plan a Trunk or Treat for Halloween last year. —Iris Vukmanovic, Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2024

The Republic also outlined the group's potential ties to the fatal beating of 16-year-old Preston Lord at a Halloween party in Queen Creek. —The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2024

Art the Clown will be back for Halloween this fall, with some help from Iconic Events Releasing. —Lexi Carson, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024

In another scene, Jackie and Darlene discuss holiday planning and the Conner family's affinity for Halloween. —Esther Kang, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024

Do the football games, the basketball games, all the Halloween parties and all that stuff. —Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2024

Families with young children can always visit the park during the day as the frightful activities commence after 6:30 P.M. Are there rides at Halloween Horror Nights? —Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024

Eckert’s Farm The ultimate spot for apple picking and securing the largest, best Halloween pumpkins in town! —Vogue, 3 Apr. 2024

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the box-office gold standard for this formula, but almost every beloved Gen X or Millennial media property has done it—many of them multiple times—including sci-fi works such as Alien and The Terminator, and horror-fests such as Scream and Halloween. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

short for All Hallow Even (All Saints' Eve)

First Known Use

circa 1700, in the meaning defined above

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.