Cinco de Mayo
noun
ˌsiŋ-kō-də-ˈmī-ō 
ˌsēŋ-kō-t͟hā-ˈmä-yō
: a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration held on May 5 in commemoration of the Mexican victory over the French at Puebla in 1862
Examples of Cinco de Mayo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 1862, Mexican troops repelled French attacks on the city of Puebla de los Ángeles in the Battle of Puebla, also known as the Battle of Cinco de Mayo.
—
Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
But Cinco de Mayo’s Texas roots truly began in 1989.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 May 2026
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has—unfairly—been reduced to an excuse to drink tequila and eat guac.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026
This year, Cinco de Mayo may be extra special for foodies, since the holiday lands on Taco Tuesday.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for Cinco de Mayo
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
But Cinco de Mayo’s Texas roots truly began in 1989.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 May 2026
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has—unfairly—been reduced to an excuse to drink tequila and eat guac.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026
This year, Cinco de Mayo may be extra special for foodies, since the holiday lands on Taco Tuesday.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for Cinco de Mayo
Cite this Entry
“Cinco de Mayo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cinco%20de%20Mayo. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Cinco de Mayo
noun
ˌsiŋ-kō-də-ˈmī-ō
ˌsēŋ-kō-t͟hā-ˈmä-yō
: a Mexican and Mexican-American celebration held on May 5 in honor of the Mexican victory over the French at Puebla in 1862
Etymology
Spanish, "fifth of May"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
