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
Among the city’s famous landmarks are the St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, and Bourbon Street — ground zero for Mardi Gras.
—
Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2024
Democratic convention transforms from a ‘wake’ to ‘Mardi Gras’ with Harris on the ticket
Interest in the Democratic National Convention has spiked with less than two weeks to go until the election year event in Chicago, according to consultants, event planners, activists and delegates.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 8 Aug. 2024
City Council banned Mylar confetti cannons last year after one of them caused a Mardi Gras power outage.
—Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 7 Aug. 2024
Through the 1950s and 1960s, the brothers expanded their assortment, snapping up six buildings on Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue, one of the Crescent City’s most famous corners and the backdrop to some Mardi Gras parades.
—Angela Velasquez, WWD, 2 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for Mardi Gras 
Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2024
Democratic convention transforms from a ‘wake’ to ‘Mardi Gras’ with Harris on the ticket
Interest in the Democratic National Convention has spiked with less than two weeks to go until the election year event in Chicago, according to consultants, event planners, activists and delegates.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 8 Aug. 2024
City Council banned Mylar confetti cannons last year after one of them caused a Mardi Gras power outage.
—Chelsea Brasted, Axios, 7 Aug. 2024
Through the 1950s and 1960s, the brothers expanded their assortment, snapping up six buildings on Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue, one of the Crescent City’s most famous corners and the backdrop to some Mardi Gras parades.
—Angela Velasquez, WWD, 2 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for Mardi Gras
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Mardi Gras.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 19 Aug. 2024.
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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