gregorian calendar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “gregorian calendar” mean?
The calendar system introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to reform the Julian calendar. It is the standard international civil calendar used today.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The calendar system introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to reform the Julian calendar. It is the standard international civil calendar used today.
The system for organizing days into weeks, months, and years, featuring leap years calculated by a specific rule (every year divisible by 4, except for years divisible by 100 unless also divisible by 400), which aligns the calendar year more closely with the solar year.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or usage differences; both use the term identically.
Connotations
Neutral historical/technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both, primarily appearing in historical, religious, or administrative contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “gregorian calendar” in a Sentence
[Event] occurred on [date] in the Gregorian calendar.[Country] adopted the Gregorian calendar in [year].The Gregorian calendar is more accurate than [other calendar].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gregorian calendar” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Gregorian calendar date for the event is 14 February 1918.
- We need to convert these Julian dates to their Gregorian equivalents.
American English
- The Gregorian calendar date of the treaty signing is November 11, 1918.
- Gregorian calendar reckoning is standard for international business.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in international contracts or documents to specify dates unequivocally (e.g., 'as per the Gregorian calendar').
Academic
Common in historical, theological, and astronomical texts discussing chronology and calendar reforms.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; might appear when discussing history, different cultural new years, or historical dates.
Technical
Used in computing, astronomy, and historiography for precise date calculation and conversion.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gregorian calendar”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gregorian calendar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gregorian calendar”
- Misspelling as 'Gregorian calender'.
- Confusing it with the 'Julian calendar' (old style).
- Incorrect capitalisation ('gregorian calendar').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Pope Gregory XIII introduced it in 1582 through a papal bull.
It modified the leap year rule: century years are not leap years unless divisible by 400 (e.g., 1900 was not a leap year, but 2000 was).
Great Britain and its American colonies adopted it in 1752, switching from the Julian calendar.
It is the de facto international standard for civil use, though many cultures and religions also maintain their own traditional calendars for cultural or religious purposes.
The calendar system introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to reform the Julian calendar. It is the standard international civil calendar used today.
Gregorian calendar is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Gregorian calendar: in British English it is pronounced /ɡrɪˌɡɔː.ri.ən ˈkæl.ən.də/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡrəˌɡɔːr.i.ən ˈkæl.ən.dɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: GREGORY the Pope ORdered a New calendar. G.REG.ORIAN.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MEASURABLE GRID (the calendar provides the structure and measurement units for time).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of the Gregorian calendar's leap year rule?