Mother's Day

American  

noun

1. a day, usually the second Sunday in May, set aside in honor of mothers.

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Mother's Day British  

noun

1. the second Sunday in May, observed as a day in honour of mothers

2. Also called: Mothering Sunday.  the fourth Sunday in Lent, when mothers traditionally receive presents from their children

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Compare meaning

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

• Father's Day vs. Mother's Day

Example Sentences

A Mother’s Day tradition was for Peter to buy Kirsten a gift from La Perla.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Her parents and husband bought her flowers for Mother's Day, too.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

My wife and I seldom dine out, typically only on special occasions such as birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and our wedding anniversary.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

He anticipates consumers could still eye spending during major events such as Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day when retailers offer discounts.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2026

It was Mother’s Day, which had always been a sad day for Deborah, and this one hadn’t started well.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot