Mardi Gras

noun

Mar·​di Gras ˈmär-dē-ˌgrä How to pronounce Mardi Gras (audio)
 in New Orleans commonly  -ˌgrȯ
1
a
: Shrove Tuesday often observed (as in New Orleans) with parades and festivities
b
: a carnival period climaxing on Shrove Tuesday
2
: a festive occasion resembling a pre-Lenten Mardi Gras

Examples of Mardi Gras in a Sentence

We're going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. It was a Mardi Gras to remember!
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
From Carnival to Mardi Gras, jerk to gumbo, and island roti to po’boys, this is a flavorful look at food as a vessel for identity, migration, music, and resistance. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 30 June 2025 In addition to the Shriners’ Roaring ‘57 Chevys, new to the lineup were the Brass Works, a brass band that played Mardi Gras and patriotic music, and a bubble performer from Glenn David Productions, Salamando said. Gloria Casas, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2025 Groves, 27, was convicted of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder in connection with a shooting during Mardi Gras in 2018. Chris Kenning, USA Today, 27 June 2025 This log flume ride, which debuted in November 2024, is centered on the sites and sounds of 1920s Bayou Country, including zydeco and Afro-Cuban music, Mardi Gras, the culinary traditions of New Orleans and, of course, the region’s critters—crocodiles among them. Michelle Baran, AFAR Media, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for Mardi Gras

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, fat Tuesday

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of Mardi Gras was in 1699

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Cite this Entry

“Mardi Gras.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mardi%20Gras. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

Mardi Gras

noun
Mar·​di Gras ˈmärd-ē-ˌgrä How to pronounce Mardi Gras (audio)
: the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday often observed with parades and merrymaking
Etymology

French, literally "fat Tuesday"

Word Origin
The Christian period of fasting known as Lent begins every year on Ash Wednesday. The day before Lent begins is a time of celebration and feasting in many places. One of the original reasons for such feasting was probably to use up the last supplies of foods, such as meat and fat, which were not eaten during Lent. The eating of such foods may be why the day became known in France as Mardi Gras, which means "fat Tuesday." It is also possible that the name comes from a former custom of parading a fattened ox through Paris on this day.

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