Secret Santa

noun

variants or less commonly secret Santa

plural Secret Santas also secret Santas

: a group gift exchange in which each person is secretly assigned to give a gift anonymously to one other person in the group

With Christmas already on the horizon, she also made mention of their Secret Santa. Now in its third year, the event is a collaboration … with folks at the senior center …

—Andrew Unverferth

also : a person giving a gift anonymously in such a gift exchange

Most often, the "secret Santa" goes above and beyond what their giftee requested. I always ask for the littlest of things, though, such as coffee, socks, a small tool or "something in plaid."

—Ryan Schlehuber

—often used before another noun

Secret Santa presents

Try organizing a Secret Santa gift exchange. Everyone participating draws a name out of a hat, and only buys a gift for that person.

—Ashley Maready

Word History

Etymology

Santa Claus

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above