January

American  

[jan-yoo-er-ee] / ˈdʒæn yuˌɛr i /

noun

Januaries plural

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

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January British  

/ ˈdʒænjʊərɪ /

noun

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

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Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of January

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

Example Sentences

And in January he lamented "the lack of transparency in the creation of the algorithms" that govern the operation of various chatbots, whose use is growing rapidly worldwide.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

Forced to retire from her opening match at the Australian Open in January because of a torn muscle in her hip, Jones suffered her gym accident just as she neared a return to full fitness.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

In January, federal prosecutors charged an L.A. nonprofit leader with pocketing at least $10 million in homeless grants.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

Search interest continues to rise, with a significant surge recorded in January 2026.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

Late one afternoon near the end of January 1944, Rolf stepped stealthily into the workshop.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom