Mardi Gras
noun
Mar·di Gras
ˈmär-dē-ˌgrä 
in New Orleans commonly -ˌgrȯ
1
a
: Shrove Tuesday often observed (as in New Orleans) with parades and festivities
b
: a carnival period climaxing on Shrove Tuesday
2
: a festive occasion resembling a pre-Lenten Mardi Gras
Examples of Mardi Gras in a Sentence
We're going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
It was a Mardi Gras to remember!
Recent Examples on the Web
Just last month, LaBeouf was arrested in New Orleans after getting into a fight at Mardi Gras.
—
Zack Sharf, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
The pieces were inspired partly by the history of New Orleans Mardi Gras, where, Moore explained, Black people were once banned from appearing, leading to a separate tradition of masking.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026
On my visit, a week after Mardi Gras, crawfish season had arrived.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Rockies assistant pitching coach Gabe Ribas got the coat from a friend, who found it during Mardi Gras.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for Mardi Gras
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Zack Sharf, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
The pieces were inspired partly by the history of New Orleans Mardi Gras, where, Moore explained, Black people were once banned from appearing, leading to a separate tradition of masking.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026
On my visit, a week after Mardi Gras, crawfish season had arrived.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2026
Rockies assistant pitching coach Gabe Ribas got the coat from a friend, who found it during Mardi Gras.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for Mardi Gras
Cite this Entry
“Mardi Gras.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mardi%20Gras. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Mardi Gras
noun
Mar·di Gras
ˈmärd-ē-ˌgrä
: the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday often observed with parades and merrymaking
Etymology
French, literally "fat Tuesday"
Word Origin
The Christian period of fasting known as Lent begins every year on Ash Wednesday. The day before Lent begins is a time of celebration and feasting in many places. One of the original reasons for such feasting was probably to use up the last supplies of foods, such as meat and fat, which were not eaten during Lent. The eating of such foods may be why the day became known in France as Mardi Gras, which means "fat Tuesday." It is also possible that the name comes from a former custom of parading a fattened ox through Paris on this day.
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