Juneteenth

noun

June·​teenth ˌjün-ˈtēn(t)th 

: June 19 observed as a legal holiday in the United States in commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S.

Note: The federal name for this holiday according to the United States Code is Juneteenth National Independence Day. It is also called Black Independence Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Juneteenth Independence Day.

Examples of Juneteenth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Running this year from June 19 to July 4, the citywide festival commemorates both Juneteenth and the Fourth of July as holidays for a complete picture of the meaning of freedom and liberty. —Michele Herrmann, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

During federal holidays, most locations — including all public library branches, city college campuses and Chicago Park District facilities — close to the public even if there is a heat emergency, such as Juneteenth last year during a string of 90-degree days. —Lily Carey, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025

On this uncharacteristically rainy Juneteenth Thursday, the theme of reclamation feels particularly apt. —Kyle Denis, Billboard, 25 June 2025

For much of the day New Haven Green was filled with a Juneteenth Village and Marketplace, including loud and lively hip-hop acts. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

blend of June and nineteenth

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Juneteenth

• Juneteenth Independence Day
• Juneteenth National Independence Day

Rhymes for Juneteenth

• seventeenth
• eighteenth
• fifteenth
• fourteenth
• nineteenth
• sixteenth
• thirteenth
• umpteenth

Kids Definition

Juneteenth

noun

June·​teenth

ˌjün-ˈtēn(t)th

: June 19 observed as a legal holiday in the U.S. in commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S.