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Holy Week

American  

noun

  1. the week preceding Easter Sunday.


Holy Week British  

noun

  1. the week preceding Easter Sunday

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Holy Week

1700–10; translation of Italian settimana santa

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.

See Examples For:

In March, Leo XIV spoke out against those who advocate war in a speech marking the start of Holy Week, in the shadow of the ongoing Iran War.

From Salon Apr. 14, 2026

Leo has repeatedly denounced ongoing global conflicts in recent weeks, using a series of Holy Week addresses to warn against what he has described as a growing indifference to war and suffering.

From BBC Apr. 5, 2026

Last year, Holy Week was the setting for the Argentine pontiff's final public appearances, during which he appeared frail and short of breath.

From Barron's Apr. 1, 2026

At the heart of the Good Friday and Holy Saturday sections were four responsories from Carlo Gesualdo’s 1611 collection for Holy Week.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 4, 2025

I joined in Padre Ignacio’s Holy Week activities, going to the nightly novenas and daily mass.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

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