birthday
A birthday is the annual anniversary of the day a person was born, often celebrated as a milestone of aging. In academic and legal contexts, it is the standard reference point for determining a person's age, legal capacity, and eligibility for certain rights or obligations.
Examples
3 of 5I am planning to bake a chocolate cake for my sister's twenty-first birthday.
I am planning to bake a chocolate cake for my sister's twenty-first birthday.
The applicant must provide documentation proving they have reached their eighteenth birthday prior to the election.
The applicant must provide documentation proving they have reached their eighteenth birthday prior to the election.
Happy birthday! Let's go out tonight and celebrate properly.
Happy birthday! Let's go out tonight and celebrate properly.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Visualize a 'Birth' certificate attached to a 'Day' on a calendar. The day you were birthed is your birthday.
Quick Quiz
Since I was out of town last week, I am sending you a _______ birthday card today.
Correct!
The correct answer is: belated
Examples
I am planning to bake a chocolate cake for my sister's twenty-first birthday.
everydayI am planning to bake a chocolate cake for my sister's twenty-first birthday.
The applicant must provide documentation proving they have reached their eighteenth birthday prior to the election.
formalThe applicant must provide documentation proving they have reached their eighteenth birthday prior to the election.
Happy birthday! Let's go out tonight and celebrate properly.
informalHappy birthday! Let's go out tonight and celebrate properly.
The longitudinal study tracked the participants' development from their first birthday until their tenth.
academicThe longitudinal study tracked the participants' development from their first birthday until their tenth.
Our corporate policy allows employees to take a half-day of paid leave on their actual birthday.
businessOur corporate policy allows employees to take a half-day of paid leave on their actual birthday.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
birthday suit
a humorous way of saying someone is completely naked (the way they were born)
belated birthday
wishes or gifts given after the actual date of the birthday has passed
birthday boy/girl
the person whose birthday it is on that specific day
Often Confused With
An anniversary is a general term for the yearly return of any date (like a wedding), while a birthday is strictly for birth.
Usage Notes
The word is primarily used as a countable noun. In formal or legal documents, the phrase 'date of birth' is often preferred over 'birthday'.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to use the possessive 's when talking about someone else's birthday (e.g., saying 'my mother birthday' instead of 'my mother's birthday').
Memory Tip
Visualize a 'Birth' certificate attached to a 'Day' on a calendar. The day you were birthed is your birthday.
Word Origin
Derived from Middle English 'birthe-day', which combines 'birth' (from Old Norse byrð) and 'day' (from Old English dæg).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many cultures, birthdays are celebrated with rituals like singing 'Happy Birthday', blowing out candles on a cake, and receiving gifts.
Quick Quiz
Since I was out of town last week, I am sending you a _______ birthday card today.
Correct!
The correct answer is: belated
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
pale
A1Describes something that has very little color or is much lighter than usual. It is often used to describe a person's face when they are ill or a color that is mixed with a lot of white.
lung
A1The lungs are two organs inside your chest that you use to breathe. They bring oxygen into your body and remove carbon dioxide when you breathe out.
tropical
A1Relating to the hot regions of the Earth near the equator. It describes weather that is very warm and wet, or plants and animals that come from these areas.
trader
A1A trader is a person whose job is to buy and sell goods, stocks, or other items for profit. They can work in a small local market or on large international financial exchanges.
indoor
A1Describes something that is located, happens, or is used inside a building rather than outside. It is an adjective used before a noun to talk about activities or objects protected from the weather.
threshold
A1A threshold is the physical area at the bottom of a doorway that you step over to enter a room or building. It also refers to the level or point at which something starts to happen or changes.
tribute
A1A tribute is something that you say, do, or give to show your respect and admiration for someone. It is often a public act used to honor a person's life, work, or memory.
elder
A1Used to describe a person who is older than another, especially within a family. It is also used to refer to people who have a high status or more experience because of their age.
russian
A1Relating to Russia, its people, its language, or its culture. It describes things that come from or are connected to the largest country in the world.
southeastern
A1Located in or coming from the direction between south and east. It describes a place, a region, or a wind that is in the corner between the bottom and the right on a map.
Comments (0)
Login to CommentStart learning languages for free
Start Learning Free