January

[jan-yoo-er-ee]

noun

plural

Januaries 

1. the first month of the year, containing 31 days. Jan.

January

/ ˈdʒænjʊərɪ /

noun

1. the first month of the year, consisting of 31 days

Word History and Origins

Origin of January¹

before 1000; Middle English < Latin, noun use of Jānuārius, equivalent to Jānu ( s ) Janus + -ārius -ary; replacing Middle English Genever, Jeniver < Anglo-French, Old French Genever, Jenever < Latin, as above; replacing Old English Januarius < Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of January¹

C14: from Latin Jānuārius, from adj: (month) of _Janus ¹

Example Sentences

When the fare rises to $3 in January, it will have climbed an average of 1.7% annually over the past decade, below the city’s inflation rate.

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We define winter as the three coldest months - December, January and February - and when we look at a list of record low temperatures from across the UK we can see why.

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That is about 10 percentage points higher than in January, but well below the most dramatic rates announced by the administration over the course of the year.

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In January, Church of England bishops from around the country will gather - with "national unity and diversity" one of the topics on the agenda.

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Since 2021, the annual increase has come in March instead of January.

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When To Use

What does January mean?

January is the first month of the calendar year. It has 31 days and is followed by February. It follows December, the twelfth and final month of the previous year.January is closely associated with its position at the beginning of the year. January 1 is known as New Year’s Day due to being the first day of the year.For many people, January is a time of making New Year’s resolutions—decisions to do something or make some change in the new year, especially to change or start some habit or behavior. For example, many people start new exercise routines or diets in January.In the Northern Hemisphere, January is a winter month. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is a summer month.In the U.S., the most notable holiday in January after New Year’s Day is Martin Luther King Day, which is observed on the third Monday of the month. The inaugurations of new U.S. presidents and members of Congress are also held in January.Example: People treat January as a time of new beginnings and life changes, but I like to remind them that they can do that during any month.