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

The Italian American Human Relations Foundation of Chicago has never received an explanation as to the basis for Johnson’s opposition to the celebration of Columbus Day. —Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025

Among them were: An executive order to bring back Columbus Day. —Dave Itzkoff, New York Times, 4 May 2025

The orders ranged from real actions taken by the president, like bringing back Columbus Day, to parody orders such as reducing the number of interracial couples in TV shows. —Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 4 May 2025

Similar action would be needed to delist Columbus Day from the ranks of federal holidays. —Philip Elliott, Time, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Columbus Day

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

Kids Definition

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