May Day

American  

noun

1. the first day of May, long celebrated with various festivities, as the crowning of the May queen, dancing around the Maypole, and, in recent years, often marked by labor parades and political demonstrations.

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May Day British  

noun

1. 1. the first day of May, traditionally a celebration of the coming of spring: in some countries now observed as a holiday in honour of workers

   2. ( as modifier )

      May-Day celebrations

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Etymology

Origin of May Day

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English

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Compare meaning

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

• May Day vs. Labor Day

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

May Day

This strategy, which is also known as the “Halloween Indicator,” attempts to exploit the historical tendency for the stock market to produce the bulk of its long-term returns between Halloween and the subsequent May Day.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026

It meant the Met had to stage one of its most significant public order policing operations since the May Day riots of the early 2000s.

From BBC ● May 16, 2026

U.S. recognition of International Workers’ Day, also called May Day, originated as labor rights movements fought for economic fairness by pushing for better pay and working conditions.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

May Day, which celebrates workers and the working classes, sees a major police deployment in Turkey every year, with a large area in the heart of Istanbul around Taksim Square sealed off.

From Barron's ● May 1, 2026

He was a key member of the Transvaal Indian Youth Congress and had heard I was opposed to the May Day strike.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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