Memorial Day

noun

1

: May 30 formerly observed as a legal holiday in most states of the U.S. in remembrance of war dead

2

: the last Monday in May observed as a legal holiday in most states of the U.S.

3

: confederate memorial day

Examples of Memorial Day in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The comment seemed to be a reference to majority-Black crowds during Memorial Day weekend in Miami Beach, known at the time as Urban Beach Week. —Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2026

That year included the deadly Memorial Day flooding in Central Texas and the October flooding that washed out Austin’s Onion Creek neighborhood. —Roberto Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 13 Mar. 2026

That people-first approach is often shown via major price slashes during holiday weekends, such as Memorial Day, offering a small but meaningful gesture to families setting out on long drives. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026

Those attractions’ debuts are set for the day after Memorial Day. —Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Memorial Day

• andromache
• bioassay
• cabriolet
• cercariae
• communique
• companionway
• compositae
• decussate
• examinee
• fabaceae
• glyphosate
• microarray

Kids Definition

Memorial Day

noun

1

: May 30 once observed as a legal holiday in honor of those who died in war

2

: the last Monday in May observed as a legal holiday in most states of the U.S.