Boxing Day

American  

[bok-sing dey] / ˈbɒk sɪŋ ˌdeɪ /

noun

1. (in the United Kingdom and many other members of the Commonwealth of Nations) the day after Christmas.

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Boxing Day British  

noun

1. the first day (traditionally and strictly, the first weekday) after Christmas, observed as a holiday

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Etymology

Origin of Boxing Day

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Much of Aceh already had to be reconstructed with international assistance after 2004's Boxing Day tsunami, which killed more than 170,000 people in the province alone.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Christine Clark, 64, was hunting for fossils during a Boxing Day walk on Holy Island, Northumberland when something caught her eye.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

Organisers of some Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall had postponed or cancelled events due to a yellow weather warning for wind.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

Amorim changed the system to four at the back for the victory over Newcastle on Boxing Day but reverted to a back three for subsequent games, including at Leeds.

From BBC • Jan. 4, 2026

I work on Boxing Day and visit Bernie at the Bell Street Cinema the next day “Ed Kennedy!” he cries out when I get there.

From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak