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Glite Dictionary
July 4

July 4

33 1.0
A national holiday in the United States that celebrates independence from Britain
  • noun
  • /dʒʌˈlaɪ fɔr/
  • US
translation icon : 4 de julio
  • We make it an annual tradition to create July 4th t-shirts as a family.
  • on July 4
  • evening of July 4
  • July 4, 1776

Examples

  • I was born on July 4th, 1974

    The I Inside (2004)

  • Even today, more rodeos take place on July 4 than any other date.

    Academic text (1994)

  • The landing took place on July 4, 1997.

    Academic text (2007)

  • The last entry had them throwing a garden party on July 4, 1957.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • And on the night of July 4th, detective, you responded to a call in Rocky Point Park.

    Vengeance: A Love Story (2017)

  • Lisa and Elliot are getting married on July 4.

    Exit to Eden (1994)

  • Petraeus was commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan from July 4, 2010, until July 18, 2011.

    Blog text (2)

  • A poetic episode in our national history occurred on July 4, 1826.

    Academic text (1996)

  • A state temperance convention convened in Atlanta on July 4, 1881, which included temperance organizations from all across Georgia.

    Academic text (2009)

  • Many families gather for barbecues and fireworks on July 4 to celebrate Independence Day.

Synonyms

Fourth of July
vsJuly 4
  • US
79 1.4

A national holiday in the United States that celebrates the Declaration of Independence of 1776

has identical meaning but uses the numeric date form
Independence Day
vsJuly 4
  • US
15 1.1

A national holiday in the United States on July 4th that remembers when the country became independent in 1776

is the numeric date form rather than the formal holiday name

Surface Forms

July 4 singular
July 4th singular

Morphology

July + 4

The phrase literally denotes 'the fourth day of July', which is directly and transparently derived from the constituents 'July' and '4'. However, its conventionalized meaning as the U.S. national holiday (Independence Day) is culturally specific and not predictable from the words alone, so learners who only know the constituents may not infer the holiday sense.

Etymology

July 4 became the name of the holiday because on that day in 1776 American leaders agreed to the 'Declaration of Independence', the paper saying the colonies were free from Britain. People began to mark the day with parades and fireworks, so July 4 now means the U.S. holiday 'Independence Day'.