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

January 20 – February 18 Plans with others shift, but something better can take shape from it today. —Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026

Aquarius January 20 – February 18 Plans with others shift, but something better can take shape from it today. —Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 3 May 2026

Jordan Poorman Cocker, interview with the author, January 28, 2026. —Glenn Adamson, Artforum, 2 May 2026

Monken, who was hired in January, is expected to introduce a new offensive system in Cleveland. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Januarie, from Latin Januarius, 1st month of the ancient Roman year, from Janus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for January

• askari
• astbury
• azeri
• banbury
• barberry
• blackberry
• blueberry
• canary
• cranberry
• dentary
• dewberry
• dogberry

Kids 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.