Thanksgiving: meaning, definitions and examples

Thanksgiving specifically refers to the national holiday in the United States and Canada where people give thanks for what they have. It is often associated with a large meal, typically featuring turkey.

• We're going to my grandmother's house for Thanksgiving this year.
• Every Thanksgiving, we reflect on what we're grateful for.

Holiday is a very general term for any special day when people do not have to work or go to school. It can include religious, national, or cultural events and is not limited to Thanksgiving.

• We always go to the beach during the summer holiday.
• Christmas is my favorite holiday.

Celebration is a more general term that can refer to any event held in honor of something. It doesn't have to do with giving thanks or the harvest; it could be a birthday, an anniversary, or any special occasion.

• We had a big celebration for her 50th birthday.
• Their wedding was a beautiful celebration.

Harvest festival is a broader term that can refer to any event celebrating the gathering of crops. This term is often used in many cultures and can include food, music, and dancing.

• The village holds a harvest festival every autumn to celebrate the end of the growing season.
• There were stalls with fresh produce at the harvest festival.

Another usage but less common, can mean an act of giving thanks, particularly in a formal or religious context.

• The church service included prayers of thanksgiving.
• It was a moment of thanksgiving for the blessings they had received.

Appropriate for expressing a deep sense of thankful recognition or heartfelt thankfulness, often used in more personal, reflective, or profound contexts.

• I want to express my deep gratitude for your support during this difficult time.
• She felt overwhelming gratitude towards the people who helped her.

Best used to show recognition or acknowledgment of someone's effort, significance, or value, often in formal or professional settings.

• We would like to show our appreciation for your hard work this year.
• Her appreciation for art is evident in her extensive collection.

Informal and widely used in everyday situations to express thanks or gratitude quickly and easily.

• Thanks for helping me with my homework.
• I'd like to say thanks to everyone who contributed.