lincoln's birthday: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal, Official, Historical
Quick answer
What does “lincoln's birthday” mean?
The anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. President.
A legal public holiday observed in some U.S. states on February 12th to commemorate Abraham Lincoln; sometimes associated with broader celebrations of history, freedom, and national unity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Not observed or recognised as a holiday in the UK. The term is almost exclusively American. In the UK, it would be understood only as a historical reference.
Connotations
In the US: historical reverence, patriotism, civic duty. In the UK: neutral foreign reference, possible mild curiosity.
Frequency
High frequency in relevant US contexts (history, calendars, state announcements); very low to zero in UK contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “lincoln's birthday” in a Sentence
They observed Lincoln's Birthday.Lincoln's Birthday is a state holiday.The ceremony for Lincoln's Birthday was held.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lincoln's birthday” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- Some states still Lincoln's-Birthday their way through February.
adjective
American English
- They attended the Lincoln's-Birthday ceremony at the statehouse.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Office closures in certain states; 'Observed holiday' on calendars.
Academic
Discussed in US history courses; topic for essays on Reconstruction or emancipation.
Everyday
Checking if schools or banks are closed. 'Do we have work off for Lincoln's Birthday?'
Technical
Reference in legal codes defining state holidays; in historical chronology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lincoln's birthday”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lincoln's birthday”
- Incorrect apostrophe: 'Lincolns Birthday' (missing apostrophe).
- Capitalisation error: 'lincoln's birthday'.
- Confusing it with 'Presidents' Day'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a federal holiday. It is a state holiday observed in some states, such as Illinois and Connecticut.
It is on February 12th, the actual date of Abraham Lincoln's birth in 1809.
Lincoln's Birthday specifically commemorates Abraham Lincoln. Presidents' Day (officially Washington's Birthday) is a federal holiday in February that often honours all U.S. presidents and may incorporate Lincoln's remembrance.
No. Whether one gets a day off depends on the state laws and employer policies. Federal workers do not get this day off.
The anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.
Lincoln's birthday is usually formal, official, historical in register.
Lincoln's birthday: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɪŋkənz ˈbɜːθdeɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɪŋkənz ˈbɝːθˌdeɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Lincoln's LOG cabin → his Birthday LOG is on February 12th.
Conceptual Metaphor
A HOLIDAY IS A MONUMENT (to a person's legacy).
Practice
Quiz
What is Lincoln's Birthday primarily associated with?