Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A commemorative day: Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth member states to remember the members of their armed forces who died in the line of duty, particularly during World War I and World War II. It is held on November 11, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I hostilities, or on the Sunday nearest to that date.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The nation falls silent for two minutes on Remembrance Day.
  • We wear poppies in the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day.
  • The main Remembrance Day ceremony is held at the Cenotaph in London.

Advanced Usage

• "Observe Remembrance Day": To formally mark or participate in the commemorations.
  • The country observes Remembrance Day with parades and services.
• "Remembrance Day service/ceremony": A specific religious or formal event held for the commemoration.
  • He will lay a wreath at the Remembrance Day service.

Variants and Related Words

• Remembrance Sunday: The name used in the United Kingdom for the commemoration held on the second Sunday in November.
• Armistice Day: The original name for November 11, marking the end of World War I; still used in some countries.
• Veterans Day: The name for the November 11 holiday in the United States, which honors all military veterans.
• Poppy Day: An informal term for Remembrance Day, derived from the tradition of wearing artificial poppies.

Synonyms

• Memorial Day: (Note: In the U.S., Memorial Day is a separate holiday in May honoring those who died in military service.)
• Commemoration day: A general term for a day of remembrance.

Related Phrases

• "Lest we forget": A phrase commonly associated with Remembrance Day, urging that the sacrifices of the fallen should not be forgotten.
  • The words "Lest we forget" are inscribed on many war memorials.
• "The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month": A phrase describing the precise moment the World War I armistice took effect, central to the timing of Remembrance Day.
  • The silence begins at the eleventh hour, in remembrance of the armistice.

Noun

1. the Sunday nearest to November 11 when those who died in World War I and World War II are commemorated