red-letter day: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Medium frequency (C1-C2 level)Formal to informal; mostly written and figurative spoken language.
Quick answer
What does “red-letter day” mean?
A day that is particularly special or memorable, often because of a positive event, celebration, or personal achievement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A day that is particularly special or memorable, often because of a positive event, celebration, or personal achievement.
Any significant or joyful occasion that stands out from ordinary days; historically, a saint's day or holiday marked in red on ecclesiastical calendars.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The idiom is equally understood and used in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/literary in modern American use; slightly more idiomatic/common in British use.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English, but well-established in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “red-letter day” in a Sentence
[Subject/It] + be + a red-letter day + (for [person])[Event] + made + it + a red-letter dayVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “red-letter day” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A as a verb
American English
- N/A as a verb
adverb
British English
- N/A as an adverb
American English
- N/A as an adverb
adjective
British English
- We marked the red-letter date in our diaries.
- It was a proper red-letter occasion.
American English
- She received a red-letter invitation to the ceremony.
- It's a red-letter event on the school calendar.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; could describe a major company launch or record profit day.
Academic
Rare; might describe a key publication or graduation.
Everyday
Common; used for birthdays, anniversaries, promotions, personal achievements.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “red-letter day”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “red-letter day”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “red-letter day”
- Using it for negative events (e.g., *It was a red-letter day when I lost my job).
- Spelling as 'redletter day' without a hyphen.
- Using it to describe just any good day (it implies standout significance).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it exclusively refers to positive, celebratory, or significant happy events.
Yes, 'red-letter' is a compound adjective modifying 'day'. The standard spelling is with a hyphen.
It originates from the practice of marking saints' days, festivals, and holidays in red ink on church calendars and early almanacs.
It is a traditional idiom but remains in active use, particularly in writing and formal speech, to emphasise a day's special importance.
A day that is particularly special or memorable, often because of a positive event, celebration, or personal achievement.
Red-letter day is usually formal to informal; mostly written and figurative spoken language. in register.
Red-letter day: in British English it is pronounced /ˌred ˈlet.ə ˌdeɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌrɛd ˈlɛɾ.ɚ ˌdeɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “day to remember”
- “field day”
- “once in a lifetime”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a calendar where only your happiest, most important days are circled in bright red ink.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE/CELEBRATION IS RED (from historical practice of marking holidays in red ink).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'red-letter day' be INAPPROPRIATE?