Definition

Proper noun: * A U.S. federal holiday: Memorial Day is a legal holiday observed on the last Monday in May in the United States. Its primary purpose is to honor and remember the men and women of the U.S. armed forces who died while serving in military wars and conflicts.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Schools and government offices are closed for Memorial Day.
  • Many people visit cemeteries on Memorial Day to place flags on the graves of soldiers.
  • The city holds a Memorial Day parade every year.

Advanced Usage

• "to observe Memorial Day": To formally recognize or commemorate the holiday, often through ceremonies or moments of silence.
  • The veterans' group will observe Memorial Day with a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument.

Variants and Related Words

• Memorial (noun): Something, especially a structure or ceremony, established to remind people of a person or event. While "Memorial Day" is a specific holiday, a "memorial" can be for anyone or any event.
  • They built a memorial for the town's founder.

Synonyms

• Decoration Day: This was the holiday's original name, still used in some historical or formal contexts.

Notes on Meaning

It is important to distinguish Memorial Day from Veterans Day. Memorial Day specifically honors those who died in military service. Veterans Day, observed on November 11, honors all military veterans, both living and deceased, for their service.

Noun

1. legal holiday in the United States, last Monday in May; commemorates the members of the United States armed forces who were killed in war