noun
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an anniversary of the day of one's birth
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( as modifier )
birthday present
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the day on which a person was born
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any anniversary
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of birthday
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at birth, day
Explanation
Your birthday is the day of your birth! It’s the yearly anniversary that marks the day you were born. Not everyone celebrates, but a birthday is a good excuse for a party and cake. You can use birthday both to refer to the specific day of a baby's birth, and the annual marking of that day throughout the years that follow. Sometimes people talk about the birthday of a country, group, or even a building: "It's the art museum's fiftieth birthday next year." The Old English byrddæg originally referred to the celebration of a king or saint's birth, but over the years it was extended to include everyone.
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.
It is also used by Democrats and Republicans alike for political conventions and events: Marilyn Monroe famously performed her legendary rendition of "Happy Birthday" for then president John F. Kennedy at a 1962 fundraiser.
From Barron's • Jul. 1, 2026
Goldman celebrated his 67th birthday in the unit, with cake and an unlit candle delivered by his medical team, who also sang Happy Birthday to him on video.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
Birthday messages from a string of A-listers including Leonardo DiCaprio and Dame Judi Dench were played on screen during the show.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
And there they were, a dozen or two members of that marching band, in full regalia, with two people holding a “Happy Birthday Eva!” banner and the rest blasting out the familiar tune.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026
After everyone sang "Happy Birthday," Deirdre made a secret wish.
From "Sleepover Sleuths: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #1" by Carolyn Keene
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
