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.
The pop star Dua Lipa set off another viral wave of taste-testing when she posted an October 2024 video on TikTok where she added pickle juice to her Diet Coke.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Delta Airlines opened a new luxury lounge at Los Angeles International Airport in October, catering to high-end customers who want an elevated travel experience.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
That is below the somewhat recent peak of 7.79% in October 2023, but high enough to shock people who were thrilled to lock-in unusually low rates in 2012.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026
The UFU's Executive passed a vote of no confidence in the department - not the minister - in October last year.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
In October, a combined Austrian-German-Bulgarian invasion finally succeeded in crushing Serbia, occupying the kingdom and driving the defeated remnants of the Serbian army out completely.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
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.
