thanksgiving day: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal, Historical, Cultural
Quick answer
What does “thanksgiving day” mean?
A national holiday, primarily in the United States and Canada, set aside for giving thanks for blessings, often associated with a harvest feast and family gatherings.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A national holiday, primarily in the United States and Canada, set aside for giving thanks for blessings, often associated with a harvest feast and family gatherings.
The term can also refer more broadly to any day of giving thanks or offering gratitude, often of a religious nature, though this usage is far less common than the reference to the specific North American holidays.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'Thanksgiving Day' is not a national holiday and is understood primarily as the American/Canadian holiday. It may be celebrated by expatriates or in some churches, but has no cultural significance for the general population.
Connotations
In the US, it connotes family, national history, and the start of the holiday season. In the UK, it connotes American culture.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in US media and conversation in late November. Very low frequency in UK outside discussions of US culture.
Grammar
How to Use “thanksgiving day” in a Sentence
We celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday.Thanksgiving Day falls early this year.They are having guests over for Thanksgiving Day.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thanksgiving day” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- As it's not a UK holiday, verbal use is rare. One might say: 'They are thanksgiving in the American style.' (non-standard, illustrative only)
American English
- We always thanksgiving with my parents. (informal, derived)
adverb
American English
- They traveled Thanksgiving Day weekend.
adjective
British English
- They hosted a Thanksgiving Day-inspired meal for their American friends.
American English
- We're planning the Thanksgiving Day menu.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the public holiday closure, Black Friday sales, and holiday travel impacts. 'The office will be closed for Thanksgiving Day.'
Academic
Discussed in history, sociology, and cultural studies contexts. 'The historiography of Thanksgiving Day reveals evolving national myths.'
Everyday
Plans for meals, travel, and family gatherings. 'What are you doing for Thanksgiving Day this year?'
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts outside of calendar or logistics planning.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thanksgiving day”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thanksgiving day”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thanksgiving day”
- Writing it in lower case ('thanksgiving day') when referring to the holiday.
- Using 'Thanksgiving Day' to refer to a generic thankful day in other cultures.
- Confusing US (4th Thursday in Nov) and Canadian (2nd Monday in Oct) dates.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Thanksgiving Day is not a national holiday or a traditionally celebrated event in the United Kingdom. It is recognized as a North American holiday.
The main purpose is to give thanks for the harvest and blessings of the past year. In modern practice, it is a time for family gatherings and a traditional feast.
The dates are based on different historical traditions and harvest timelines. The US fixed it to the fourth Thursday in November in 1941. Canada celebrates on the second Monday of October, aligning with earlier European harvest festivals in colder regions.
Yes, when referring to the specific national holiday, it is always capitalized as 'Thanksgiving Day' or simply 'Thanksgiving'.
A national holiday, primarily in the United States and Canada, set aside for giving thanks for blessings, often associated with a harvest feast and family gatherings.
Thanksgiving day is usually formal, historical, cultural in register.
Thanksgiving day: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθæŋksˈɡɪv.ɪŋ ˌdeɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθæŋksˈɡɪv.ɪŋ ˌdeɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: GIVING THANKS on a specific DAY. The word is a compound of 'thanks' + 'giving' + 'day'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A NATIONAL FAMILY MEAL (representing unity, heritage, and abundance).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is most strongly associated with Thanksgiving Day in the US?