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

Another new service is actually a return: Amtrak Mardi Gras Service, which starts August 18, will be twice daily service between Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans stopping at Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport and Bay Saint Louis. —Laurie Werner, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

That spring, a massive brawl on East Sixth Street between Mardi Gras partiers and Austin police resulted in almost three dozen arrests, national news coverage and some hospitalizations. —Ella McCarthy, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025

But before the deal was finalized, council members grew alarmed that the company did not seem to have the necessary equipment or subcontracts in place as Super Bowl LIX and the annual Mardi Gras celebrations loomed. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 July 2025

Shortly afterwards, the Sazerac became the first bar in New Orleans to open to open to women outside of Mardi Gras. —Marcea Cazel, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2025

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.