Columbus Day

American  

[kuh-luhm-buhs dey] / kəˈlʌm bəs ˌdeɪ /

noun

1. the second Monday in October, a U.S. legal holiday observed in many states in honor of the landing of Columbus in the West Indies on October 12, 1492: Columbus is traditionally considered the discoverer of America, though he was not the first European to reach the New World.

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Columbus Day British  

noun

1. Oct 12, a legal holiday in most states of the US: the date of Columbus' landing in the West Indies (Caribbean) in 1492

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Etymology

Origin of Columbus Day

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Columbus Day

Other federal holidays, including Columbus Day, Presidents Day and Veterans Day are also inconsistently observed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

The federal holiday, first recognized in 1937, remains Columbus Day under U.S. law.

From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2025

Columbus Day became a federally recognized holiday in 1971 to commemorate the landing of Columbus in the Americas in October 1492.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2025

Originally known just as Columbus Day, the holiday, which has its roots going as far back as the 18th Century, honors the Italian explorer who arrived in America in 1492.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 10, 2025

Then she says, “While you are here, can I count on you for Columbus Day weekend? We’ll need a dog-sitter. Matty and I are going to see his dad.”

From "The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle" by Leslie Connor