Fourth of July

noun phrase

Phrases
the Fourth of July
: July 4 observed as a legal holiday in the U.S. in commemoration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 : the Fourth

called also Independence Day

Examples of Fourth of July in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday Monday, Feb. 17: Washington's Birthday, also known as Presidents Day Monday, May 26: Memorial Day Friday, July 4: Fourth of July Monday, Sept. 1: Labor Day Monday, Oct. 13: Columbus Day, known as Indigenous Peoples Day What are the federal holidays in 2025? — Ana Rocío Álvarez Bríñez, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Dec. 2024 Release it Fourth of July or Memorial Day, with the film’s story and marketing set around the holiday, and there’s a good chance of hitting numbers close to the first Venom if the film is good enough. — Mark Hughes, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1779, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Fourth of July was in 1779

Rhymes for Fourth of July

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Browse Nearby Words

fourth market
Fourth of July
fourth-rate
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Cite this Entry

“Fourth of July.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Fourth%20of%20July. Accessed 28 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

Fourth of July

: independence day
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