: a calendar introduced in Rome in 46 b.c. establishing the 12-month year of 365 days with each fourth year having 366 days and the months each having 31 or 30 days except for February which has 28 or in leap years 29 days compare gregorian calendar
Examples of Julian calendar in a Sentence
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When the Julian calendar was later refined into the Gregorian calendar in 1582, the tradition of adding a leap day to February persisted.
—
Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024
Indeed, his birthday was denominated as February 11, 1731, under the Julian calendar in use at the time.
—The Editors, National Review, 19 Feb. 2024
Eastern Orthodox Christians follow the earlier Julian calendar in dating religious events, hence their different date for Easter.
—Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 12 Feb. 2024
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has taken the position that the Julian calendar used in the Russian church does not have religious significance, and that holidays should be celebrated according to the calendar by which people live their daily lives.
—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2023
Saturday's strikes shattered a relative calm as Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox New Year, or Malanka, a traditional holiday that is aligned with the older Julian calendar rather than the newer Gregorian one.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Jan. 2023
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Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024
Indeed, his birthday was denominated as February 11, 1731, under the Julian calendar in use at the time.
—The Editors, National Review, 19 Feb. 2024
Eastern Orthodox Christians follow the earlier Julian calendar in dating religious events, hence their different date for Easter.
—Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 12 Feb. 2024
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church has taken the position that the Julian calendar used in the Russian church does not have religious significance, and that holidays should be celebrated according to the calendar by which people live their daily lives.
—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2023
Saturday's strikes shattered a relative calm as Ukrainians celebrated Orthodox New Year, or Malanka, a traditional holiday that is aligned with the older Julian calendar rather than the newer Gregorian one.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Julian calendar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Julian%20calendar. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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Julian calendar
noun
Ju·lian calendar
ˌjül-yən- 
: a calendar introduced in Rome in 46 b.c. establishing the 12-month year of 365 days with each fourth year having 366 days and the months each having 31 or 30 days except for February which has 28 or in leap years 29 days compare gregorian calendar
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