October
Americannoun
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the tenth month of the year, containing 31 days. Oct.
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British. ale or beer traditionally brewed in this month.
noun
Usage
What is October? October is the tenth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It has 31 days and is between September and November. In the Northern Hemisphere October is known as a middle month of the autumn season, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s a middle month of the spring season. Many countries around the world celebrate Halloween, which is on October 31. It’s so popular that much of the month is devoted to spooky things. Halloween is celebrated differently from country to country, with nations like the United States and Canada practicing in trick-or-treating and hosting Halloween-themed parties. Other nations, like Japan and Ireland, celebrate with parades and public gatherings. Other holidays celebrated in October include Día de los Muertos and Oktoberfest. Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday that celebrates those who have died. In Germany, Oktoberfest celebrates the craft of beer making, running from late September to early October. Example: October is such a spooky month, especially when the trees lose their leaves.
Etymology
Origin of October
before 1050; Middle English, Old English < Latin Octōber the eighth month of the early Roman year, equivalent to octō- octo- + -ber, on the model of September, November, December; see December
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.
One of the Fed’s preferred inflation gauges—the core personal-consumption expenditures price index—is widely expected to top 3% when it is released later this month, up from 2.8% last October.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026
Davis and Hawkins were disciplined in October, and Osman was disciplined in March.
From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026
He calculated how this portfolio would have performed for someone retiring in October 1929 and making withdrawals for 30 years.
From Barron's • Apr. 19, 2026
In October 2025, the German arms company Rheinmetall announced a €1bn joint venture with VMZ, to produce up to 100,000 155mm shells a year.
From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026
The October sun was bright, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
