Labor Day

American  

noun

1. (in the U.S.) a legal holiday, commonly the first Monday in September, in honor of labor.

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Labor Day British  

noun

1. (in the US and Canada) a public holiday in honour of labour, held on the first Monday in September

2. (in Australia) a public holiday observed on different days in different states

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Labor Day Cultural  

1. A national holiday in the United States and Canada in honor of working people. Labor Day is observed on the first Monday in September.

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Etymology

Origin of Labor Day

First recorded in 1885–90

Compare meaning

How does labor-day compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• May Day vs. Labor Day

Example Sentences

All this changes when both houses of Congress return after Labor Day and legislative activity ramps up.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 6, 2026

Schools in the Northeast and upper Midwest tended to start later, around Labor Day.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 21, 2026

From now until Labor Day, the only shade structures permitted in that resort town are traditional umbrellas.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026

May 1 is a public holiday in many countries to mark International Workers’ Day, or Labor Day, when workers’ unions traditionally rally around wages, pensions, inequality and broader political issues.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

There are, however, several good holidays: the weeks that include the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Columbus Day.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt