Labor Day

American  

noun

1. (in the U.S.) a legal holiday, commonly the first Monday in September, in honor of labor.

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Labor Day British  

noun

1. (in the US and Canada) a public holiday in honour of labour, held on the first Monday in September

2. (in Australia) a public holiday observed on different days in different states

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Labor Day Cultural  

1. A national holiday in the United States and Canada in honor of working people. Labor Day is observed on the first Monday in September.

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Etymology

Origin of Labor Day

First recorded in 1885–90

Compare meaning

How does labor-day compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• May Day vs. Labor Day

Example Sentences

After next week, deal flow may slow during the usually sleepier months of July and August and pick back up again after Labor Day.

From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026

By Labor Day, SpaceX will have a couple of months as a public company under its belt.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

That comes as President Donald Trump told the New York Post in an interview published Wednesday that the U.S. naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz could last through Labor Day.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

May 1 is a public holiday in many countries to mark International Workers’ Day, or Labor Day, when workers’ unions traditionally rally around wages, pensions, inequality and broader political issues.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Everyone already knew September was a bad month with no good holiday in sight after Labor Day.

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles