: a private organization staging festivities (such as parades) during Mardi Gras in New Orleans
Examples of krewe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As those all-white krewes rolled down the main streets of the parade routes, the real Mardi Gras was taking place in the backstreets of the surrounding Black neighborhoods.
—
Cierra Chenier, Essence, 12 Feb. 2024
The tradition grew as more krewes, the groups that create the floats and march through the streets, adopted the practice of throwing gifts to show appreciation to the crowds.
—Keisha Rowe, The Courier-Journal, 13 Feb. 2024
Half of each year’s floats are new and tied to the theme, while the other half are returning signature floats, like krewes have in New Orleans.
—USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024
The Krewe of Zulu made history in 1969 when the city permitted them to roll down Canal Street’s main route on Mardi Gras Day, previously reserved for white krewes.
—Cierra Chenier, Essence, 12 Feb. 2024
While most people know about Mardi Gras krewes, Mardi Gras Indians aren’t as well-known.
—Annie Alleman, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2023
In recent years, more krewes have included Black members, and in 2013, the Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale became the first krewe founded by Black women for Black women.
—Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2022
The Krewe of Gheens parade is the Cajun Bayou’s first to roll on Mardi Gras Day, beginning at 11 a.m. Mississippi Gulf Coast Biloxi’s Krewe of Neptune is patterned after the old-line New Orleans krewes, which are known for their secrecy.
—Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Feb. 2023
Though the outbreak of the Civil War put a temporary hold on Mardi Gras, the tradition returned after the conflict’s end, with many krewes adopting imagery of kings and queens as a way of reinforcing white supremacy.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Feb. 2023
Cierra Chenier, Essence, 12 Feb. 2024
The tradition grew as more krewes, the groups that create the floats and march through the streets, adopted the practice of throwing gifts to show appreciation to the crowds.
—Keisha Rowe, The Courier-Journal, 13 Feb. 2024
Half of each year’s floats are new and tied to the theme, while the other half are returning signature floats, like krewes have in New Orleans.
—USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024
The Krewe of Zulu made history in 1969 when the city permitted them to roll down Canal Street’s main route on Mardi Gras Day, previously reserved for white krewes.
—Cierra Chenier, Essence, 12 Feb. 2024
While most people know about Mardi Gras krewes, Mardi Gras Indians aren’t as well-known.
—Annie Alleman, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2023
In recent years, more krewes have included Black members, and in 2013, the Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale became the first krewe founded by Black women for Black women.
—Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2022
The Krewe of Gheens parade is the Cajun Bayou’s first to roll on Mardi Gras Day, beginning at 11 a.m. Mississippi Gulf Coast Biloxi’s Krewe of Neptune is patterned after the old-line New Orleans krewes, which are known for their secrecy.
—Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Feb. 2023
Though the outbreak of the Civil War put a temporary hold on Mardi Gras, the tradition returned after the conflict’s end, with many krewes adopting imagery of kings and queens as a way of reinforcing white supremacy.
—Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'krewe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
alteration of crew
First Known Use
1857, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near krewe
Cite this Entry
“Krewe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/krewe. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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