save the date

noun

An informal notice of the date of an important upcoming event, usually a wedding, sent before a formal invitation.

“When should save the dates be sent?”

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounsave the date (plural save the dates)

plural save the dates · alternative save-the-date

  1. An informal notice of the date of an important upcoming event, usually a wedding, sent before a formal invitation.

    When should save the dates be sent?

adjectivesave the date (not comparable)

alternative save-the-date

  1. not comparableOf or referring to such a notice.

Origin

From the verbal phrase, suggesting that recipients should reserve the date in their calendars.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

save the date. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/save%20the%20date

MLA

“save the date.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/save%20the%20date. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “save the date,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/save%20the%20date.

Source: save the date on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.