Memorial Day

noun

1

: May 30 formerly observed as a legal holiday in most states of the U.S. in remembrance of war dead

2

: the last Monday in May observed as a legal holiday in most states of the U.S.

3

: confederate memorial day

Examples of Memorial Day in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Luckily, Amazon just kicked off an early Memorial Day sneakers sale with massive markdowns. —Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026

In a strange turn, none of the films slated for this year’s Memorial Day Weekend — the (un)official kickoff of the summer blockbuster rush — actually fit the blockbuster bill, with those more traditional big-budget movies arriving later than usual. —Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 16 May 2026

Drivers face their 100 deadliest days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. —Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026

Best Early Memorial Day Wayfair Furniture Deals When there’s a major sale, picking up investment pieces is my best piece of advice, and there’s something for every room at Wayfair. —Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 16 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Memorial Day

• andromache
• bioassay
• cabriolet
• cercariae
• communique
• companionway
• compositae
• decussate
• examinee
• fabaceae
• glyphosate
• gramineae

Kids Definition

Memorial Day

noun

1

: May 30 once observed as a legal holiday in honor of those who died in war

2

: the last Monday in May observed as a legal holiday in most states of the U.S.