420

Or 4:20
Or 4/20

[fawr-twen-tee, fohr‐]

noun

Slang

1. marijuana.

   Are you carrying any 420 on you?

2. marijuana drug use: The guys at the party were all 420-friendly.

   Police presence at the concert discouraged 420.

   The guys at the party were all 420-friendly.

3. the twentieth day of the fourth month, or the time 4:20, when referenced as a day or time for cannabis consumption or the celebration of marijuana culture.

   The head shop has a big pipe sale every year on 420.

Word History and Origins

Origin of 420¹

First recorded in 1970–75; a code word derived from the meeting time of a particular group of marijuana smokers in 1971, later popularized by fans of the band the Grateful Dead

Example Sentences

Cleanup was underway Wednesday in a wooded, remote area of Ventura County after about 420 gallons of crude oil inundated a waterway, officials said, and crews were working to beat the upcoming storm.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A county report estimates that repairing the still-unfinished monument could cost the county between $168,000 and $420,000, and completing the engraving of names on the granite slabs up to an additional $40,000.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The brokerage forecasts the total EV sales volume to reach close to 420,000 units this year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

About half of Scotland's land is owned by just 420 people, according to research by former Green MSP Andy Wightman.

Read more on BBC

Research by the former Green MSP Andy Wightman suggests that the concentration of landowners has increased in recent years with 50% of privately-owned rural land owned by around 420 people.

Read more on BBC

When To Use

What is 420?

420 is a slang term (or a kind of code word) referring to marijuana or marijuana use.Due to this association, 420 is also used as the name of an unofficial holiday that marijuana enthusiasts celebrate by using marijuana. It is sometimes called Weed Day (weed is a slang term for marijuana).