What does thanksgiving mean?
Thanksgiving is a noun denoting the act or expression of gratitude, particularly when it is formal, public, or religious. It can refer to a prayer or ceremony of thanks, to a general spirit of gratitude, or, when capitalized, to the annual holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada. The word is somewhat formal and literary in its general sense, appearing in phrases such as “a spirit of thanksgiving” and “a day of thanksgiving.” “Thanksgiving” is also the standard name of the holiday, while the lowercase form usually describes the broader concept. Its meaning combines gratitude with celebration: thanks are not merely acknowledged but actively given. This makes the word especially appropriate in religious, commemorative, civic, and harvest-related contexts. In everyday British and American English, people usually say “thank you,” “thanks,” or “gratitude” when expressing a simple personal acknowledgment, reserving “thanksgiving” for a more deliberate or communal expression.
nounThanksgiving means the expression or act of giving thanks, especially gratitude offered publicly or in a religious context. As Thanksgiving, it also names an annual holiday associated with harvest, family, and gratitude.
- The expression or act of giving thanks, especially gratitude offered publicly or in a religious context.
- A feeling of gratitude or thankfulness.
- Thanksgiving, an annual holiday associated with harvest, family gatherings, and giving thanks, especially in the United States and Canada.
"The ceremony was a solemn expression of thanksgiving for the community's generosity."
"The service included prayers of thanksgiving for a successful harvest."
"Families across the United States commonly celebrate Thanksgiving with a shared meal."
The plural is grammatically possible but uncommon; it is mainly used when referring to multiple acts of giving thanks or multiple celebrations.
"The account describes several thanksgivings held by different communities."
Thanksgiving literally means “the giving of thanks,” turning a simple expression of gratitude into a celebration, a prayer, or a national holiday.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does thanksgiving come from?
The word was formed in English in the late sixteenth century from “thank” and “giving,” in the sense of the act of giving thanks. Its components follow ordinary English compounding patterns and reflect the older verb “to give” in its sense of presenting or offering. The holiday name developed later from the general noun, with capitalization marking the proper name of the observance.
How thanksgiving is actually used
When used for the holiday, the word is normally capitalized as Thanksgiving. In Britain, it is also associated with harvest festivals, though the American and Canadian public holidays are not generally observed in the UK.