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.
Uganda is preparing to start crude oil exports in October, with higher global oil prices potentially increasing the value of these exports.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
Trump and Xi are set to discuss extending a one-year tariff truce, which the two leaders reached during their last meeting in South Korea in October, although a deal is far from certain.
From Barron's • May 13, 2026
In October, BBC News reported that the charity's accounts for the previous financial year showed The Anti-Slavery Collective had raised £1.5m in donations but had distributed very little, with £1.3m carried forward.
From BBC • May 13, 2026
Halley's Comet crossed the skies during the short reign of King Harold Godwinson, who ruled England from January 6 to October 14, 1066.
From Science Daily • May 13, 2026
On the morning of October 20, White House press secretary Pierre Salinger met with reporters outside a Chicago hotel.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
