Black Friday
noun
US
: the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving Day that is considered by retailers to mark the beginning of the holiday shopping season
Note: The origin of Black Friday in this sense is not known for certain. The day was allegedly so named either in reference to traffic congestion in central cities on the day after Thanksgiving or to the supposed fact that retailers' accounts shifted from red to black with the beginning of the shopping season.
Examples of Black Friday in a Sentence
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Would a flashy sale, in the retail desert of summer, turn people’s attention away from outdoor activities and captivate them in a way akin to Black Friday?
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Preston Fore, Fortune, 17 June 2025
People carry shopping bags during Black Friday sales at American Dream Mall on November 29, 2024, in East Rutherford City.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
There will likely be another Prime Day in October, followed by the last big sale events of the year: Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which takes place on Thanksgiving weekend.
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 12 June 2025
The last time Amazon hosted a major sales event was in mid-October for Amazon Prime Big Deal Days (otherwise known as October Prime Day), and of course, in late November and early December for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
—Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 12 June 2025
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Preston Fore, Fortune, 17 June 2025
People carry shopping bags during Black Friday sales at American Dream Mall on November 29, 2024, in East Rutherford City.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
There will likely be another Prime Day in October, followed by the last big sale events of the year: Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which takes place on Thanksgiving weekend.
—Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 12 June 2025
The last time Amazon hosted a major sales event was in mid-October for Amazon Prime Big Deal Days (otherwise known as October Prime Day), and of course, in late November and early December for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
—Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for Black Friday
Cite this Entry
“Black Friday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Black%20Friday. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.
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