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
Recent Examples on the Web
Outside of Black Friday, the best Prime Day deals of 2025 deliver some of the biggest price drops of the year—and many great discounts are already live.
—
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 19 Sep. 2025
So let those preschoolers stay up extra late on Black Friday this year.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2025
However, this one takes place in October, which gives shoppers a chance to score great deals and stock up on holiday gifts before other big shopping days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
Local brands are adopting global sales events, such as Black Friday, but tailoring them with region-specific messaging, languages and channels.
—Ivan Ostojić, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Black Friday
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.
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 19 Sep. 2025
So let those preschoolers stay up extra late on Black Friday this year.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2025
However, this one takes place in October, which gives shoppers a chance to score great deals and stock up on holiday gifts before other big shopping days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2025
Local brands are adopting global sales events, such as Black Friday, but tailoring them with region-specific messaging, languages and channels.
—Ivan Ostojić, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 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 4 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share