Santa Claus

noun

San·​ta Claus ˈsan-tə-ˌklȯz 

 also  ˈsan-tē-

variants or Santa

ˈsan-tə 

: a plump, white-bearded, red-suited, and jolly old man in modern folklore who delivers presents to children at Christmastime

There might be a few weeks left until Christmas, but Santa Claus and his merry elves landed early in Bakersfield because several boys and girls on the nice list caught their attention.

—Ema Sasic

… we had dashed downstairs to the living room to see what Santa had brought and piled up, in great mounds of splendidly wrapped packages, under the Christmas tree—whose angel's halo brushed the ceiling.

—Anthony Bailey

Examples of Santa Claus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The totality will also occur in places like Santa Claus, Indiana. —Matt Novak / Gizmodo, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024

The queen of Christmas NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 27: Santa Claus and Mariah Carey perform during a pre-tape performance for NBC's Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center on November 27, 2012 in New York City. —Alex Kessler, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2024

Stay in an ice igloo; go skiing or dog sledging; race rally cars through the Arctic; and visit Santa Claus’ home in Rovaniemi. —Condé Nast Traveller, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Mar. 2024

Wearing his red union baseball cap and tending the blaze inside an oil drum, Mr. Bohne, 56, looks like a scruffy Santa Claus. —Erika Solomon, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024

And yes, this includes filming at the world-famous Santa Claus Village and the Arctic Circle located in Rovaniemi, Finland. —Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 19 Mar. 2024

After the friend rejected the gift, Chan decided to make a Santa Claus costume entirely constructed from ketchup, soy sauce, mustard and malt vinegar packets. —Seth Combs, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024

The thread also featured photos of Kelly posing with Marion while on a hike and the children spending time with Santa Claus in December 2023. —Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024

The Legend Parking Lot will offer a free viewing area for eclipse watchers, as the town of Santa Claus, Ind., will host a variety of events. —Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

modification of Dutch Sinterklaas, alteration of Sint Nikolaas Saint Nicholas

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Santa Claus

noun

San·​ta Claus ˈsant-ē-ˌklȯz 

ˈsant-ə-

: the spirit of Christmas represented by a fat jolly old man in a red suit who gives toys to children

Etymology

from Dutch Sinterklaas, an altered form of Dutch Sint Nikolaas "Saint Nicholas"