October
Americannoun
-
the tenth month of the year, containing 31 days. Oct.
-
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.
In a wide-ranging interview, Blanc urged the government to avoid policy "kite flying" ahead of Chancellor John Healey's first Budget on 28 October.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
Paris Fashion Week, dedicated to women's spring-summer collections, runs until October 6.
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
And that, in turn, means there’s no reason we should be especially skittish in October when placing stock-market bets.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison has said the deal would close within two weeks of the settlement, putting the closing in early October.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026
At Edwards Air Force Base in California, Major Richard Heyser spent the afternoon of October 13 trying to get some sleep.
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.
