A1noun1K

January

UK /["/ˈdʒænjuəri/"]/US /["/ˈdʒænjueri/"]/

Definition

the 1st month of the year, between December and February

In simple words: The first month of the year.

Examples

  • She was born in January.
  • The meeting is on the fifth of January/January the fifth.
  • The meeting is on January fifth.
  • We went to Japan last January.
  • I arrived at the end of January.
  • last January's election
  • the January sales *(= when a shop sells its goods at a lower price than usual)*
  • It was a cold January morning.

Usage notes

Used to refer to the first month of the calendar year. Generally appropriate in both spoken and written contexts.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'Janu-enjoy' — enjoy the new year starting in January.

Collocations

  • January sales
  • January blues
  • New Year's Day in January

Synonyms

  • first month
  • winter month

Antonyms

  • December
  • February

Common mistakes

  • Confusing with 'Jan' as an abbreviation for January.
  • Capitalizing 'january' incorrectly.
  • Mispronouncing the word with incorrect stress patterns.