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

Examples of Secret Santa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ahead, find our top picks for the 50 best Secret Santa gifts for every budget, including plenty of last-minute gift ideas from Amazon. — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 5 Nov. 2026

There’s an Anthropologie lover on everyone’s gift list, making this an ideal pick for a Secret Santa gift or a white elephant swap. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026

Consider some of these for Secret Santa or white elephant gifting, too, especially when the group sets the budget. — ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Santa Claus

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Secret Santa

• atalanta
• manta
• planta