thanksgiving

[thangks-giv-ing]

noun

1. the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God.

2. an expression of thanks, especially to God.

3. a public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favor or kindness.

4. a day set apart for giving thanks to God.

5. (initial capital letter),  Thanksgiving Day.

thanksgiving

/ θæŋksˈɡɪvɪŋ, ˈθæŋksˌɡɪvɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of giving thanks

2. 1. an expression of thanks to God

   2. a public act of religious observance or a celebration in acknowledgment of divine favours

Other Word Forms

• pre-Thanksgiving adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of thanksgiving¹

First recorded in 1525–35; thank + -s ³ + give ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

When To Use

What does thanksgiving mean?

The word thanksgiving means the act of expressing or feeling thankfulness.In other words, it’s the act of giving thanks for what you’re grateful for.This sense of the word is often used in a religious context. For example, a prayer of thanksgiving involves praying to express gratitude for the blessings in one’s life.The word thanksgiving is also used as the name of a national holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada. It’s officially known as Thanksgiving Day but is commonly just called Thanksgiving. It is observed in the U.S. on the fourth Thursday of November, and in Canada on the second Monday of October.Today, the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. is traditionally celebrated with family gatherings and a large meal, especially one that includes a roast turkey. Other traditional Thanksgiving dishes include mashed potatoes, stuffing or dressing, and pumpkin pie. The association with eating turkey has led to the informal nickname Turkey Day.Example: A lot of people forget that Thanksgiving is not just a time for gathering and eating but for actual thanksgiving—acknowledging all of the things we have to be thankful for.