Red-letter
adj.joyful, hopefulliterary
What it means
Exceptionally important, memorable, or joyful.
Reach for it when marking a day or occasion as a notable positive milestone
Opening the rebuilt bridge was a red-letter day for the valley.
Choose between these
6- playful
an outstandingly successful day is celebrated
not when Banner is chiefly American idiom.
- everyday
warm personal importance is enough
not when Special is less distinctive.
- warm
the occasion remains vivid
not when Memorable can recall bad events.
- professional
historic
the event changes the public record
not when Historic is often overclaimed.
- formal
the occasion marks a major stage
not when Landmark can describe neutral change.
- formal
momentous
lasting consequences make the event important
not when Momentous need not be joyful.
Said against
3- forgettable
- routine
- inauspicious
It naturally appears in
3- red-letter day
Graduation became a red-letter day for the whole family.
- red-letter occasion
The centenary was a red-letter occasion in the town.
- red-letter moment
Their first harvest was a red-letter moment.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective sense: memorably significant opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.