January
noun
Jan·u·ary
ˈjan-yə-ˌwer-ē 
-ˌwe-rē
plural Januaries or Januarys
: the first month of the Gregorian calendar
Examples of January in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Weiss, the team’s quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator, was originally put on leave in January 2023 while the school’s police department investigated unspecified computer access crimes.
—
David Matthews, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025
One of the 15 wolves that Colorado Parks and Wildlife imported from British Columbia and released on the Western Slope in January was killed by federal officials in Wyoming on Sunday.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 21 Mar. 2025
In January 2024, Aerin announced her first official collaboration with Williams-Sonoma Inc.’s portfolio brand Pottery Barn Kids for a collection of baby gifts, decor, nursery textiles and children’s furniture.
—Sofia Celeste, WWD, 20 Mar. 2025
How Bruce Willis Indirectly Inspired Samuel L. Jackson to Take Nick Fury MCU Role
Lynch died at age 78 on January 17.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2025
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David Matthews, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025
One of the 15 wolves that Colorado Parks and Wildlife imported from British Columbia and released on the Western Slope in January was killed by federal officials in Wyoming on Sunday.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 21 Mar. 2025
In January 2024, Aerin announced her first official collaboration with Williams-Sonoma Inc.’s portfolio brand Pottery Barn Kids for a collection of baby gifts, decor, nursery textiles and children’s furniture.
—Sofia Celeste, WWD, 20 Mar. 2025
How Bruce Willis Indirectly Inspired Samuel L. Jackson to Take Nick Fury MCU Role
Lynch died at age 78 on January 17.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for January
Cite this Entry
“January.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/January. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
January
noun
Jan·u·ary
ˈjan-yə-ˌwer-ē
: the first month of the year
Etymology
from Latin Januarius "first month of the year," from Janus, a Roman god
Word Origin
Among the many gods worshipped by the ancient Romans was one named Janus. He was believed to have two faces, one looking forward and one looking back. Janus was associated with doors, gates, and all beginnings. Because of that, when the Romans changed their calendar and added two months to the beginning of the year, they named the first one Januarius to honor Janus. The English January comes from Latin Januarius.
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