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

In New Orleans, the Mardi Gras festivities lasts 10 days leading up to Fat Tuesday with parades of green, purple and gold, Mardis Gras beads and, of course, king cakes. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Jan. 2026

This bakery, which has been serving Louisville since 1924, offers a wide variety of Mardi Gras items, from King Cakes to cookies, thumbprints, cupcakes and the popular cookie monsters. —Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Jan. 2026

Even the New York teams couldn’t quite keep up with 81 days of baseball Mardi Gras in the East Village. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026

Louisiana-style king cakes are made of sweet cinnamon pastry covered in white frosting and sprinkles in the colors of Mardi Gras — green for faith, purple for justice, and gold for power. —Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, fat Tuesday

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for Mardi Gras

• candlemas
• fiberglass
• fibreglass
• hourglass
• isinglass
• lemongrass
• martinmas
• orchardgrass
• overpass
• plexiglas
• plexiglass
• sassafras

Kids 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.