new year

noun

1. the year approaching or newly begun.

2. New Year's Day.

3. (initial capital letters),  the first day or few days of a year in any of various calendars.

New Year

noun

1. the first day or days of the year in various calendars, usually celebrated as a holiday

Word History and Origins

Origin of new year¹

Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200

Example Sentences

On New Year’s Eve, Amanda and I celebrated with nobody else, but watched the live feed from Times Square, while eating microwaved burritos in bed.

From Los Angeles Times

"They will be there or thereabouts, they just have to get the squad together and be fit coming in to the new year."

From BBC

Grant Thornton, among the UK's top 100 graduate employers, said it used to take from September to Easter to hire new graduates but now most jobs are filled by the new year.

From BBC

You can see it in the little rituals: call my mom before any major event — New Year’s Eve, the Super Bowl, or just a random December day that feels festive — and ask what she’s making.

From Salon

The voyages of the starship Enterprise will include a 5½-mile stretch in Pasadena on New Year’s Day.

From Los Angeles Times