Saturday

noun

Sat·​ur·​day ˈsa-tər-(ˌ)dā How to pronounce Saturday (audio)
-dē
plural Saturdays
: the day of the week between Friday and Sunday see also holy saturday
Saturdays
ˈsa-tər-(ˌ)dāz How to pronounce Saturday (audio) -dēz How to pronounce Saturday (audio)
adverb
We visit my parents Saturdays. [=every Saturday]

Examples of Saturday in a Sentence

He will arrive next Saturday. His birthday falls on a Saturday this year.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
On a muggy Saturday afternoon in mid-August, tennis player Novak Djokovic appeared to vomit into a towel and called for a doctor to check his blood pressure before unexpectedly losing a second-round match in Cincinnati. — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026 Temperatures in the area are expected to be in the mid-90s to above 100 degrees on Saturday. — Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026 According to Michelle Hernández of Brooklyn, who attended the Saturday show, one of the most important logistical things to note is that there is no break between the two performers. — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026 The greatest threat of unsettled weather is expected Saturday, NWS forecaster Justin Lane said. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Saturday

Word History

Etymology

Middle English saterday, from Old English sæterndæg (akin to Old Frisian sāterdei), from Latin Saturnus Saturn + Old English dæg day

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Saturday was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing Saturday

Browse Nearby Words

saturator
Saturday
Saturday night special
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Saturday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Saturday. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Saturday

noun
Sat·​ur·​day ˈsat-ərd-ē How to pronounce Saturday (audio)
: the seventh day of the week
Etymology

Old English sæterndæg, literally, "Saturn's day," derived from Latin Saturnus "Saturn"

Word Origin
Several of the days of the week, such as Tuesday and Wednesday, get their English names from Germanic gods, but Saturday gets its name from a Roman one. Saturnus was the name of an important Roman god of agriculture, known in English as Saturn. The Old English word sæterndæg, "Saturn's day," came originally from the god's Latin name. The modern English Saturday comes from the Old English sæterndæg.
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