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
Due date for individuals and businesses affected by wildfires and straight-line winds in southern California that began on January 7, 2025.
—
Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Magazine in January 2020, both stars opened up about their longtime friendship.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 31 May 2025
If coaches get their wish to eliminate the spring transfer portal window and establish a single 10-day period in January, a veteran stuck behind an rising star would have nowhere to go.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2025
The study, published in January, has not yet been peer-reviewed.
—Megan Sauer, CNBC, 31 May 2025
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Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
Magazine in January 2020, both stars opened up about their longtime friendship.
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 31 May 2025
If coaches get their wish to eliminate the spring transfer portal window and establish a single 10-day period in January, a veteran stuck behind an rising star would have nowhere to go.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 May 2025
The study, published in January, has not yet been peer-reviewed.
—Megan Sauer, CNBC, 31 May 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 5 Jun. 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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