February
Americannoun
-
Februaries
plural
noun
Pronunciation
Many people try to pronounce February with both sounds, as shown above. The common pronunciation , with the first replaced by , is the result of dissimilation, the tendency of like sounds to become unlike when they follow each other closely. An additional influence is analogy with January. Although sometimes criticized, this dissimilated pronunciation of February is used by educated speakers and is considered standard.
Usage
What does February mean? February is the second month of the calendar year. It follows January and is followed by March. It can be pronounced either FEB-roo-air-ee or FEB-yoo-air-ee. February is notable for being the shortest month of the year. It has 28 days, except during a leap year, when it has 29 due to the addition of a leap day. Every four years, a leap day is added to the end of February to adjust for the fact that the calendar is 365 days long but the Earth’s revolution around the sun actually takes 365 days and 6 hours. In the Northern Hemisphere, February is a winter month. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is a summer month. In the U. S. and some other countries, February is Black History Month. Several U. S. and international holidays also fall in February, including Groundhog Day on February 2, Valentine’s Day on February 14, and Presidents’ Day on the third Monday of February. The American football championship known as the Super Bowl is typically held in early February. Example: I was born on February 29, so I usually celebrate my birthday on February 28 on non-leap years.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of February
before 1000; Middle English; Old English Februarius < Latin Februārius (mēnsis) expiatory (month), derivative of februa (plural) expiatory offerings; see -ary
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
CoreCivic turned San Diego health inspectors away from the Otay Mesa Detention Center in February, but after legal action the visit took place in June.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
This was not accepted by the prosecution, and he will stand trial on 1 February 2027.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
Pacific Coast began talking with authorities in Venezuela about opportunities in February, while also making its case in Washington, according to people familiar with the matter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
The agency announced in February 2025 that it had a goal of downsizing by 7,000 workers, amid other cost-cutting measures.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
On February 4, 1899, American soldiers opened fire on Filipinos in Manila, a city on the island of Luzon.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
“It absolutely was not a mistake,” responded Mr. Lott, who pointed to the climate benefits of an all-electric fleet and noted that D.C. had just gone through one of its warmest Februaries on record.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 28, 2023
Still, it’s hard for me to believe that Seattle would have had a parade for the Seahawks four Februaries ago if Schneider wasn’t around.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 6, 2018
To be fair—if you’re in the mood to be fair—this hasn’t been the most pleasant of Februaries for the Republican men and women of Congress.
From The New Yorker ● Feb. 22, 2017
In a news release, water officials blamed the lower savings partially on the weather, saying February was one of the warmest and driest Februaries since the drought began.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 4, 2016
I have seen Februaries in France which have been spring-like, with the chestnut trees in bud, and the primroses in flower, and lilacs in leaf.
From On the Edge of the War Zone From the Battle of the Marne to the Entrance of the Stars and Stripes by Mildred Aldrich
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
