Mardi Gras
noun
Mar·di Gras
ˈmär-dē-ˌgrä 
in New Orleans commonly -ˌgrȯ
1
a
: Shrove Tuesday often observed (as in New Orleans) with parades and festivities
b
: a carnival period climaxing on Shrove Tuesday
2
: a festive occasion resembling a pre-Lenten Mardi Gras
Examples of Mardi Gras in a Sentence
We're going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
It was a Mardi Gras to remember!
Recent Examples on the Web
Favorite hobbies: Talking, making elaborate Mardi Gras costumes.
—
Dalton Ross, EW.com, 29 Jan. 2025
The Super Bowl will take place Feb. 9 while Mardi Gras festivities begin in early March.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 29 Jan. 2025
Mobile isn’t the only place to celebrate Mardi Gras in Alabama.
—Jenny Adams, AFAR Media, 23 Jan. 2025
It will be held at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025
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Dalton Ross, EW.com, 29 Jan. 2025
The Super Bowl will take place Feb. 9 while Mardi Gras festivities begin in early March.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 29 Jan. 2025
Mobile isn’t the only place to celebrate Mardi Gras in Alabama.
—Jenny Adams, AFAR Media, 23 Jan. 2025
It will be held at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for Mardi Gras
Dictionary Entries Near Mardi Gras
Cite this Entry
“Mardi Gras.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mardi%20Gras. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Mardi Gras
noun
Mar·di Gras
ˈmärd-ē-ˌgrä
: the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday often observed with parades and merrymaking
Etymology
French, literally "fat Tuesday"
Word Origin
The Christian period of fasting known as Lent begins every year on Ash Wednesday. The day before Lent begins is a time of celebration and feasting in many places. One of the original reasons for such feasting was probably to use up the last supplies of foods, such as meat and fat, which were not eaten during Lent. The eating of such foods may be why the day became known in France as Mardi Gras, which means "fat Tuesday." It is also possible that the name comes from a former custom of parading a fattened ox through Paris on this day.
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