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April Fools' Day

American  

noun

  1. April 1, a day when practical jokes or tricks are played on unsuspecting people.


Etymology

Origin of April Fools' Day

First recorded in 1745–50; the variant All Fools' Day is first recorded in 1700–05


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In fact, if we were on the eve of April Fools’ Day, not the Fourth of July, I’d guess that the few news stories about the order were pranks.

From Slate ● Jul. 1, 2026

Every year, journalist Ben Black publishes a playful fake story on his community news site Cwmbran Life for April Fools' Day.

From BBC ● Apr. 3, 2025

He inadvertently led this tiny band of eccentrics, plucked from the upper rungs of British society, into a historic plunge off the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, England, on April Fools’ Day in 1979.

From New York Times ● Nov. 3, 2023

“Women Talking” writer-director Polley made everyone’s April Fools’ Day by sharing a fake letter from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rescinding her Oscar — written by her 11-year-old child.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 2, 2023

“This is why you don’t lend your phone out on April Fools’ Day, Simon.”

From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli

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