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

See Examples For:

Labor Day

Regional markets lacked cues given Monday’s Labor Day holiday, and investors are now looking to U.S. consumer inflation data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

U.S. stocks were broadly lower on Tuesday as trading resumed following the Labor Day holiday.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

The three-minute video was posted by the president on the US Labor Day holiday and opens with footage of French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace as a guardsman appears to collapse behind him.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Regional markets on Tuesday lacked cues from New York given Monday’s Labor Day holiday, and investors are now looking to U.S. consumer inflation data due Friday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

"Never go to the beach on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Especially when there's been a heat wave for more than a week."

From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies