Wiktionary:Word of the day/Archive/2025/July

1. (Canada) A community of indigenous peoples of Canada (typically not including the Inuit or Metis), especially one officially recognized by the federal government.
2. (by extension, less common) A community or settlement of indigenous peoples of any country or region.
   1. (Australia) A community of indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) peoples of Australia; a group of Indigenous Australians.

Today is Canada Day or Fête du Canada, the national day of Canada which celebrates the anniversary of Canadian Confederation on this day in 1867.

1. Appealing or stylish in appearance or manner; classy, flashy.
   1. Of a person: elegant in dressing; of clothes: elegant, fashionable.
2. Adept or ingenious in behaviour or operation; excellent, nifty.

1. (idiomatic) Something regarded as very familiar and unoriginal, hackneyed, or out of date.

old hat adj

1. (idiomatic) Very familiar and unoriginal; common, hackneyed, out of date.

1. (US, agriculture) If a corn (maize) crop planted in spring has grown knee-high by the Fourth of July (Independence Day of the United States), a bountiful harvest is expected.

Today is celebrated as Independence Day in the United States. It commemorates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence on this day in 1776, which established the nation.

1. (uncountable) The quality of having a rough or uneven surface; roughness, unevenness; (countable, chiefly in the plural) a protruding or rough area or point on a surface; a protrusion.
   1. (countable, geology) A section of a fault line with high friction, such that there is no movement along this part of the fault except during an earthquake.
2. (figurative)
   1. (uncountable) The quality of being difficult or unpleasant to experience; (countable) a thing that is harsh and difficult to endure; a difficulty, a hardship.
   2. (uncountable) The quality of being harsh or severe in the way one behaves or speaks toward another person; (countable, chiefly in the plural) a deeply hostile or resentful feeling; an animosity, a hatred.
   3. (uncountable, archaic)
      1. Of sound: gratingness, harshness.
      2. Of taste: harshness or sharpness; acridity, tartness.
      3. Of writing: a lack of elegance and refinement; inelegance, roughness.

1. (Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, cultural anthropology) Traditional beliefs and values held, and culture practised, in modern times in Melanesia.

Today is eve of the Independence Day of the Solomon Islands, which marks the anniversary of its independence from the United Kingdom on 7 July 1978.

1. Used to emphasize that the speaker's deductive abilities are better than those of the listener.

The British author Arthur Conan Doyle, known for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes and his friend Dr. John H. Watson, died on this day 95 years ago in 1930.

1. (derogatory, informal) Synonym of minor celebrity (“a celebrity of little importance or significance; someone famous for being famous”).

1. In a wholehearted (“showing enthusiastic and unconditional commitment”) manner; without reserve; enthusiastically, unreservedly.

1. (US) An artificially cooled emergency shelter that operates during dangerously hot weather to provide care and relief for people affected by the high temperature.

The United Kingdom’s Met Office predicts that 2025 is likely to be one of the three warmest years for global average temperature, just behind 2024 and 2023.

1. Existing in multitudes or great numbers; very numerous; innumerable.
2. Comprising a large number of features or parts; manifold, multiple; also, having a large number of forms.
   1. Of a sound: made by many people.
3. (chiefly literary and poetic) Of a body of water, the sea, etc.: huge, vast; also, having innumerable ripples.
4. (obsolete)
   1. (poetic) Followed by with: crowded with many people or things.
   2. (rare) Of or relating to the multitude (“common people; masses”).
   3. (figurative, rare) Very fruitful or productive; prolific.

Today is World Population Day, which is recognized by the United Nations to raise awareness of global population issues such as the importance of family planning, gender equality, human rights, maternal health, and poverty. Approximately on this day in 1987, the world’s population reached five billion people.

1. Used to express excitement or joy: yippee.
2. (by extension) Used to express defiance against, or to startle, an opponent.

The film Die Hard, in which the protagonist John McClane (played by Bruce Willis) famously uses the expression together with an expletive, premiered in the United States on this day in 1988.

1. (transitive)
   1. To make (someone or something) heavy with drowsiness or sleepiness.
   2. Followed by away: to pass (time) drowsily or in sleeping; also, to proceed (on a way) drowsily or sleepily.
   3. (figurative) To make (someone or something) dull or inactive, as if from sleepiness.
2. (intransitive)
   1. Often followed by away or off: to be drowsy or sleepy; to be half-asleep.
   2. (figurative) To be dull or inactive, as if from sleepiness.

drowse n

1. An act, or a state, of being drowsy or sleepy.
2. (figurative) A state of dullness or inactivity, as if from sleepiness.

1. (neologism) A non-binary partner in an unmarried romantic relationship.

Today is International Non-binary People’s Day, which recognizes people who have a non-binary gender identity—one that is not exclusively female or male. The day was established by Katje van Loon in 2012, and was chosen for being midway between International Men’s Day and International Women’s Day.

1. (also transitive with the dummy pronoun it) To save in a miserly manner; to hoard.
2. (except UK, dialectal) Also followed by along: to walk with one's head down; to walk with a stoop.

snudge n (obsolete except UK, dialectal, derogatory)

1. A greedy, stingy person; a miser.
2. A dishonest and sneaky person.

snudge v

1. (intransitive, obsolete except UK, dialectal) To lie quiet and snug; to nestle, to snuggle.

1. Chiefly of a cross-dressing, non-binary, or trans person: dressed in feminine clothing.
2. Of a situation: suitable for a cross-dressing, non-binary, or trans person to dress in feminine clothing.

en femme adv

1. (LGBTQ) Chiefly of a cross-dressing, non-binary, or trans person: while dressed in feminine clothing.

Today is International Drag Day, which was founded by Adam Stewart in 2009 to celebrate the creativity and culture of drag artists.

1. (uncountable, archaic) The action of spoliating, or forcibly seizing property; pillage, plunder; also, the state of having property forcibly seized; (countable) an instance of this; a robbery, a seizure.
2. (by extension)
   1. (uncountable) The action of destroying or ruining; destruction, ruin.
   2. (Christianity, ecclesiastical, chiefly historical)
      1. (uncountable) The action of an incumbent (“holder of an ecclesiastical benefice”) wrongfully depriving another of the emoluments of a benefice.
      2. (countable, law) A lawsuit brought or writ issued by an incumbent against another, claiming that the latter has wrongfully taken the emoluments of a benefice.
   3. (law)
      1. (uncountable) The intentional destruction of, or tampering with, a document so as to impair its evidentiary value.
      2. (international law, uncountable) The systematic forcible seizure of property during a crisis or state of unrest such as that caused by war, now regarded as a crime; looting, pillage, plunder; (countable) an instance of this.
      3. (nautical, historical, uncountable) The government-sanctioned action or practice of plundering neutral ships at sea; (countable) an instance of this.

Today is the Day of International Criminal Justice, which was instituted 15 years ago in 2010 by the states parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to recognize the importance of international criminal justice. The Rome Statute was adopted on this day in 1998.

1. Especially of a person.
   1. (in a positive sense, sometimes humorous) Eliciting respect; awe-inspiring, imposing.
   2. (in a negative sense) Eliciting dread or fear; appalling, formidable.

redoubtable n (often in the plural)

1. (in a positive sense, sometimes humorous) A person who elicits respect.
2. (in a negative sense) A person who elicits dread or fear; a formidable person.

Today is Nelson Mandela International Day, which was established by the United Nations to honour Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid activist who became South Africa’s first black head of state. Mandela was born on this day in 1918, and the first U.N. Mandela Day was held 15 years ago in 2010.

1. Used as a friendly or respectful salutation to acclaim, greet, or welcome someone: (I wish you) all health or good fortune!
2. Chiefly followed by to (someone or something): used as a salutation to indicate that someone or something is respected or welcome.

all hail n

1. A salutation of "all hail" (interjection sense 1); hence, a salutation indicating respect or welcome.

Today is Palace Day, which was established by the Association of the Royal Residences of Europe ten years ago in 2015 and first celebrated on this day in 2016 to promote the cultural heritage of palaces in Europe.

1. (cultural anthropology) A ceremony or series of ceremonies, often very ritualized, to celebrate a passage or transition from one stage of a person's life to another.
2. (by extension) Any significant event or experience that marks a transition from one stage in a person's life to another.

1. Used to indicate that a departure or loss is welcome.

good riddance n

1. A welcome departure or loss.

1. (martial arts, wrestling) A grappling hold around a person's neck, especially one in which the neck is grasped tightly from behind with an arm, cutting off the flow of blood to the brain and restricting breathing.
2. (figurative) A powerful and restrictive control or influence over something.

chokehold v

1. (transitive) To put a hold around the neck of (someone), especially one in which the neck is grasped tightly from behind with an arm.

1. (transitive)
   1. (chiefly Northern England, Scotland) Often followed by away or down: to cause (something) to decay or rot, or to crumble to pieces.
   2. (figurative, obsolete) To cause (someone or something) to die away or disappear.
2. (intransitive)
   1. Often followed by away: to decay or rot, or to crumble to pieces.
   2. (figurative)
      1. To die away, to disappear.
      2. (obsolete) Often followed by away: of a group of people (especially an army): to diminish in number; to dwindle.

moulder n (British spelling)

1. (archaic) A person who moulds dough into loaves for baking into bread.
2. (by extension)
   1. A person who moulds or shapes material into objects, especially clay into bricks, pottery, etc.
   2. An instrument or machine used to mould or shape material into objects.
   3. (figurative) A person or thing that influences or shapes; an influencer, a shaper.
3. (metalworking) A person who makes moulds for casting metal; a mouldmaker.

1. (Ireland, historical)
   1. (chiefly in the plural) A member of a roving band of hunter-warriors in ancient Ireland, especially the band led by the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill in Irish mythology; (generally) a person of ancient Ireland.
   2. (also UK) A member of an organization opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood which were active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; (generally) an Irish nationalist or republican.

Fenian adj

1. (Ireland, historical)
   1. Of or relating to roving bands of hunter-warriors in ancient Ireland, especially the band led by the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill in Irish mythology; (generally) of or relating to the people of ancient Ireland.
   2. (also UK) Of or relating to organizations opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood which were active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

1. (chiefly Ireland, UK, idiomatic) Something very delightful or fortunate that is happening or has happened, especially earlier than expected.

Today is celebrated by some people as Christmas in July, particularly those living in the Southern Hemisphere where it is wintertime.

1. Haughty, pompous, snobbish; inclined to turn up one's nose.
2. (by extension)
   1. Of an event, a thing, etc.: elite, exclusive.
   2. (uncommon) Easily angered or irritated; irritable, short-tempered.

snooty n

1. (informal, uncommon) Synonym of snoot (“an elitist or snobbish person”).

1. (originally US, now Canada, US, law) An individual witness whose statement is contained in an affidavit; (generally) an individual who makes a sworn deposition; a deponent.

1. (informal) Preceded by a (and sometimes also followed by a): of a person, thing, etc.: similar but not identical to another person, thing, etc.

sort of adv

1. (informal) Sometimes expressing hesitation, reluctance, etc.: to some extent but not entirely; approximately, in a way, not quite, somewhat.

1. (military) Of a nuclear weapons strategy: encouraging deterrence by guaranteeing an automatic, immediate, and overwhelming response to an attack, even if the command-and-control infrastructure has been damaged by the enemy's first strike.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an intergovernmental organization which seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes, was established on this day in 1957.

1. (slang) Short for hooligan (“a young person who causes trouble or violence, typically as a member of a gang or other group”).

1. (Ireland) Alternative spelling of hooley (“a noisy celebration or party”).
2. (Scotland) Alternative spelling of hooley (“a strong wind”).

1. (chiefly hunting) Originally, a synonym of scent hound (“a hunting dog that tracks prey using its sense of smell rather than by its vision”); later, any female hound; a bitch hound.

Today is one of two National Mutt Days in the year in the USA established by the American animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige.