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

Schools in the Northeast and upper Midwest tended to start later, around Labor Day.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 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

Meanwhile, the services PMI is projected to edge up to 52.8 from 52.6 due to strong Labor Day holiday travel data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 29, 2026

The elementary schools and junior highs wouldn’t open until the day after Labor Day, like always.

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine