Christmas

noun

Christ·​mas ˈkri-sməs 

often attributive

1

: a Christian feast on December 25 or among some Eastern Orthodox Christians on January 7 that commemorates the birth of Christ and is usually observed as a legal holiday

2

: christmastide

Christmassy adjective

or Christmasy

ˈkri-smə-sē 

Examples of Christmas in a Sentence

We're spending Christmas with my parents.

We had a very happy Christmas this year.

I wish you all a merry Christmas.

Recent Examples on the Web

The land that Christmas would later be founded on was part of the San Carlos Apache Reservation. —Shelby Slade, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025

The film version begins with Charles (Branagh) doing a live reading of A Christmas Carol at a packed theater. —Chris Deville, The Atlantic, 6 July 2025

What's more, a July 2 report by outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas found that job cuts have soared to their highest midyear total since the COVID-19 pandemic. —Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Preston Hayes, of O’Fallon, walked the parade route as a very skinny Santa Claus as the Calvary Assembly of God Church in Flossmoor had a Christmas in July theme. —Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English Christemasse, from Old English Cristes mæsse, literally, Christ's mass

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Christmas

• a white Christmas
• Christmas berry
• Christmas cactus
• Christmas cake
• Christmas card
• Christmas carol
• Christmas club
• Christmas cracker
• Christmas Day
• Christmas disease
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas factor
• Christmas fern
• Christmas ornament
• Christmas pudding
• Christmas rose
• Christmas season
• Christmas stocking
• Christmas tree
• Father Christmas
• Merry Christmas
• Old Christmas
• pre-Christmas

Rhymes for Christmas

• isthmus

Kids Definition

Christmas

noun

Christ·​mas ˈkris-məs 

1

: December 25 celebrated in honor of the birth of Christ

2

: christmastime