Columbus Day
noun
Co·lum·bus Day
kə-ˈləm-bəs- 
1
: October 12 formerly observed as a legal holiday in many states of the U.S. in commemoration of the landing of Columbus in the Bahamas in 1492
2
: the second Monday in October observed as a legal holiday in many states of the U.S.
Examples of Columbus Day in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some lawmakers continued to push for Pulaski Day — and Columbus Day — to be abolished as state holidays.
—
Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
In June 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved the celebration of Washington's birthday to the third Monday of February – and established Columbus Day as a federal holiday.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Another 2024 bill would have moved the Lee holiday to Columbus Day in October, which coincides with the month of his death.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2025
Other federal holidays include: New Year's Day Presidents' Day
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
July 4th
Labor Day
Columbus Day/Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous People's Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
History of MLK Jr.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Columbus Day
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Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
In June 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved the celebration of Washington's birthday to the third Monday of February – and established Columbus Day as a federal holiday.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Another 2024 bill would have moved the Lee holiday to Columbus Day in October, which coincides with the month of his death.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2025
Other federal holidays include: New Year's Day Presidents' Day
Memorial Day
Juneteenth
July 4th
Labor Day
Columbus Day/Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous People's Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
History of MLK Jr.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Columbus Day
Cite this Entry
“Columbus Day.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Columbus%20Day. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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Columbus Day
noun
Co·lum·bus Day
kə-ˈləm-bəs-
: the second Monday in October observed as a legal holiday in many states of the U.S. in honor of the landing of Columbus in the Bahamas in 1492
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