all saints' day: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Religious
Quick answer
What does “all saints' day” mean?
A Christian feast day honouring all the saints, known and unknown.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Christian feast day honouring all the saints, known and unknown.
A fixed holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church and observed by other Christian denominations, celebrated on November 1st, involving church services, prayers for the saints, and sometimes visits to cemeteries.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling may vary slightly (e.g., 'Saints' Day' vs. 'Saints Day' in informal contexts), but 'All Saints' Day' is standard.
Connotations
In both regions, primarily a religious/cultural term with historical and liturgical significance.
Frequency
Used with similar low frequency in religious and calendar contexts in both regions. More commonly referenced in Catholic-majority areas.
Grammar
How to Use “all saints' day” in a Sentence
[Subject] observes/celebrates All Saints' Day.All Saints' Day falls on [date].[Subject] is a holiday for All Saints' Day.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “all saints' day” in a Sentence
verb
British English
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American English
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adverb
British English
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American English
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adjective
British English
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American English
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Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used except regarding holiday closures in certain countries.
Academic
Used in historical, religious studies, or cultural contexts.
Everyday
Used when discussing plans, holidays, or religious observance.
Technical
Used in liturgical calendars and theological writings.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “all saints' day”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “all saints' day”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “all saints' day”
- Incorrect: 'All Saint Day' (missing apostrophe and 's').
- Incorrect: Using 'All Saints Day' interchangeably with 'Halloween'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Halloween (October 31st) is the eve of All Saints' Day (November 1st). They are distinct observances.
Yes, it is a proper noun and the name of a specific holiday, so all key words are typically capitalised.
No, it is a public holiday in many historically Catholic countries (e.g., France, Spain, Poland) but not in all English-speaking countries like the UK or US.
All Saints' Day (Nov 1) honours all saints. All Souls' Day (Nov 2) commemorates all the faithful departed.
A Christian feast day honouring all the saints, known and unknown.
All saints' day is usually formal, religious in register.
All saints' day: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɔːl ˈseɪnts deɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɔl ˈseɪnts ˌdeɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
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Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember: ALL the SAINTS are honoured on this DAY. It comes after Halloween (All Hallows' Eve).
Conceptual Metaphor
A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE (for saints), A BRIDGE BETWEEN WORLDS (from Halloween's focus on the dead to the saintly).
Practice
Quiz
When is All Saints' Day traditionally observed?