new year

American

noun

the year approaching or newly begun.
New Year's Day.
(initial capital letters) the first day or few days of a year in any of various calendars.

New Year British

noun

the first day or days of the year in various calendars, usually celebrated as a holiday

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of new year

Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Chinese automakers broadly recorded a sharp drop in sales in February as demand in the world’s largest auto industry waned during the Lunar New Year month.

From The Wall Street Journal

Vehicle sales typically slow around the Lunar New Year holiday, but the latest figures also underscore the tough road ahead for Chinese automakers after years of rapid growth and aggressive expansion in the top electric-vehicle market.

From The Wall Street Journal

Former Labour MP Jonathan Ashworth has revealed he suffered a stroke on New Year's Day and is now recovering.

From BBC

The Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February reduced the number of working days by three.

From The Wall Street Journal

When speaking to BBC Scotland News, a couple of shoppers pop in to warmly wish him well, while in one case, a woman rues where she will buy her steak pies for Christmas and New Year now.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023