Dictionary

420 en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• (UK) audio

Etymology

So named because it is 420 centimetres long.

Meanings

1. A particular type of monohull dinghy with two sails, designed for two people.

Forms

420 en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• (UK) audio

Etymology

Likely influenced by the time (4:20 pm) a particular group would meet in search of marijuana, circa 1971; subsequently spread as a cipher through the San Francisco Bay area and adopted among Grateful Dead fans.

Meanings

1. (Canada, US, especially, slang, uncountable) Cannabis.
   • Sunday is 420 day, when lovers of marijuana get together to celebrate their fondness for weed. 2025 April 20, Sandee LaMotte, “Marijuana hospital visits linked to dementia diagnosis within 5 years, study finds”, in CNN:
2. (Canada, US, as a modifier, especially, slang, uncountable, usually) Pertaining to cannabis, its consumption, or cannabis culture.
   • Late nights at the recording studio were always 420 friendly.
3. (Canada, US, especially, slang, uncountable) April 20 (abbreviated 4/20 in the US), as an occasion to celebrate cannabis culture.

Forms

420 en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• (UK) audio

Etymology

From section 420 of the Indian Penal Code (and its corresponding versions in modern Pakistan and Bangladesh), which criminalizes cheating.

Meanings

1. (Canada, South-Asia, US, especially, slang) fraudster, cheater, forger; a smooth operator

Forms

wikipedia: Indian Penal Code