Sep 11

4.4

The day when terrorists used hijacked planes to attack the United States in 2001

proper noun

: 11 de septiembre

Commemorative events are held every year to honor the victims of the Sep 11 attacks.

Examples

Many people still remember where they were when they heard about the Sep 11 attacks.
The documentary highlighted the impact of the Sep 11 terrorist attacks on American society.
It's NOT a coincidence that they are planning to open a mosque adjacent to Ground Zero on the 10th anniversary of the Sep 11 attacks.

Blog text (17)

Synonyms

Sept. 11

vsSep 11

18 4.4

A day in 2001 when terrorists attacked New York and Washington

is the same idea but written in a different abbreviated date form

September 11 attacks

vsSep 11

5 3.4

Terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001 using hijacked planes

is the term for the day itself rather than the action

September 11

vsSep 11

3 3.8

A day in 2001 when terrorists attacked the United States, destroying the World Trade Center and damaging the Pentagon

is the shorter written date form used as a compact label

9/11

vsSep 11

1 4.4

Terrorist attacks on September 11 2001 in the US when hijacked planes hit the World Trade Center and Pentagon

is the date name emphasizing the calendar day rather than the numeric label

9-11

vsSep 11

1 3.5

Terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 in the United States when hijacked planes hit important buildings

is the standard written date form, not the hyphenated numeric label

event of 9/11

vsSep 11

1 4.6

Terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001 that killed many people and changed world politics

focuses on the day itself without stressing the worldwide consequences

Surface Forms

Sep 11 main

Morphology

Sep + eleven

Knowing 'Sep' (September) and 'eleven' will allow a B1 learner to interpret 'Sep 11' as the calendar date September 11, so the compositional calendrical meaning is transparent. However, the specific reference to the 2001 terrorist attacks is a culturally specific, non-compositional referent that cannot be derived from the words alone, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Sep 11 refers to September 11, 2001, when terrorists used hijacked planes to attack buildings in the United States. That's why people use Sep 11 to mean 'the day of those attacks' and the events and memories connected to it.