February

[feb-roo-er-ee, feb-yoo‑]

noun

plural

Februaries 

1. the second month of the year, ordinarily containing 28 days, but containing 29 days in leap years. Feb.

February

/ ˈfɛbrʊərɪ /

noun

1. the second month of the year, consisting of 28 or (in a leap year) 29 days

Pronunciation Note

Many people try to pronounce February with both sounds, as shown above. The common pronunciation , with the first replaced by , is the result of dissimilation, the tendency of like sounds to become unlike when they follow each other closely. An additional influence is analogy with January. Although sometimes criticized, this dissimilated pronunciation of February is used by educated speakers and is considered standard.

Word History and Origins

Origin of February¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English Februarius < Latin Februārius (mēnsis) expiatory (month), derivative of februa (plural) expiatory offerings; -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of February¹

C13: from Latin Februārius mēnsis month of expiation, from februa Roman festival of purification held on February 15, from plural of februum a purgation

Example Sentences

Five of the reservists were indicted in February and the trial is pending.

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BBC Weather follows the meteorological calendar, where winter always begins on 1 December and ends on the last day of February.

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And over nine months ending in February 2019, one of Epstein’s personal bank accounts recorded 97 withdrawals of $1,000—all from the same ATM near Indyke’s office, the lawsuit said.

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Ireland, however, must look forward to 2026, which begins with a daunting Six Nations visit to holders France on 5 February.

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The UK government plans to roll out changes from spring 2026, after a consultation ends on 12 February.

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When To Use

What does February mean?

February is the second month of the calendar year. It follows January and is followed by March.It can be pronounced either FEB-roo-air-ee or FEB-yoo-air-ee. February is notable for being the shortest month of the year. It has 28 days, except during a leap year, when it has 29 due to the addition of a leap day. Every four years, a leap day is added to the end of February to adjust for the fact that the calendar is 365 days long but the Earth’s revolution around the sun actually takes 365 days and 6 hours.In the Northern Hemisphere, February is a winter month. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is a summer month.In the U.S. and some other countries, February is Black History Month. Several U.S. and international holidays also fall in February, including Groundhog Day on February 2, Valentine’s Day on February 14, and Presidents’ Day on the third Monday of February. The American football championship known as the Super Bowl is typically held in early February.Example: I was born on February 29, so I usually celebrate my birthday on February 28 on non-leap years.