Thanksgiving Day

noun

: a day appointed for giving thanks for divine goodness: such as
a
: the fourth Thursday in November observed as a legal holiday in the U.S.
b
: the second Monday in October observed as a legal holiday in Canada

Examples of Thanksgiving Day in a Sentence

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Some were designed to become annual traditions, such as the Tournament of Roses parade, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting and the reigning champion of NBC’s holiday specials, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 On Thanksgiving Day, when your roast turkey is resting, remove the foil and return the stuffing to the oven for its second bake. — Kendra Vaculin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026 If a storm happens during a king tide event, which this year takes place around Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, 3 feet or more of flooding is possible. — Zoe Mintz, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026 In 2016, Cyber Week emerged, which is the multi-day online and in-store retail sales period that runs from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Thanksgiving Day

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Thanksgiving Day was in 1674

Rhymes for Thanksgiving Day

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Browse Nearby Words

thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day
thanks to
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Cite this Entry

“Thanksgiving Day.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Thanksgiving%20Day. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Thanksgiving Day

noun
: a day for giving thanks for divine goodness: as
a
: the fourth Thursday in November observed as a legal holiday in the U.S.
b
: the second Monday in October observed as a legal holiday in Canada

More from Merriam-Webster on Thanksgiving Day

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Thanksgiving Day

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