field day

American  

noun

field days plural

1. a day devoted to outdoor sports or athletic contests, as at a school.

2. an outdoor gathering; outing; picnic.

3. a day for military exercises and display.

4. an occasion or opportunity for unrestricted activity, amusement, etc..

   The children had a field day with their new skateboards.

---

field day British  

noun

1. a day spent in some special outdoor activity, such as nature study or sport

2. a day-long competition between amateur radio operators using battery or generator power, the aim being to make the most contacts with other operators around the world

3. military a day devoted to manoeuvres or exercises, esp before an audience

4. informal a day or time of exciting or successful activity

   the children had a field day with their new toys

5. 1. a day or series of days devoted to the demonstration of farm machinery in country centres

   2. a combined open day and sale on a stud property

---

field day Idioms  

1. A time of great pleasure, activity, or opportunity, as in The press had a field day with this sensational murder trial. This colloquial expression, dating from the 1700s, originally referred to a day set aside for military maneuvers and exercises, and later was extended to a similar day for sports and games. Since the early 1800s it has been used more loosely.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• field days
  plural

Etymology

Origin of field day

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

field day

My father, who died of cancer several years ago, would have had a field day with Mr. Platner.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

In fact, activist shareholders have been having a field day lately.

From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026

In midfield, Sakina Karchaoui was running everywhere and we needed someone to lay a glove on her and let her know she wasn't going to have a field day.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2025

At Washington's Freedom Plaza, a makeshift field day took place, where children enjoyed free swag, food and activities.

From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2025

My school doesn’t have any kind of field day.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Related Words

• anniversary
• commemoration
• competition
• fair
• feast
• gala
• holiday