Julian calendar

noun

Ju·​lian calendar ˈjül-yən- How to pronounce Julian calendar (audio)
: a calendar introduced in Rome in 46 b.c. establishing the 12-month year of 365 days with each fourth year having 366 days and the months each having 31 or 30 days except for February which has 28 or in leap years 29 days compare gregorian calendar

Examples of Julian calendar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Some dates differ for Eastern Orthodox churches, which follow the Julian calendar. — Alex Perry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Mar. 2026 The first day of that year (1 Muharram ah 1) corresponds to July 16, 622, in the Julian calendar. — Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 May 2026 But in 1752, the government replaced the old Julian calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar, with a more accurate solar calendar. — Ian King, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026 Eastern Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar, which can place the date of Easter anywhere between April 4 and May 8 when it's converted back to the Gregorian calendar. — Carlie Procell, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Julian calendar

Word History

Etymology

Latin julianus, from Gaius Julius Caesar

First Known Use

1696, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Julian calendar was in 1696

Rhymes for Julian calendar

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Browse Nearby Words

Julian Alps
Julian calendar
Julian day calendar
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Cite this Entry

“Julian calendar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Julian%20calendar. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Julian calendar

noun
Ju·​lian calendar ˌjül-yən- How to pronounce Julian calendar (audio)
: a calendar introduced in Rome in 46 b.c. establishing the 12-month year of 365 days with each fourth year having 366 days and the months each having 31 or 30 days except for February which has 28 or in leap years 29 days compare gregorian calendar

More from Merriam-Webster on Julian calendar

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Julian calendar

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