Christmas

noun

Christ·​mas ˈkris-məs How to pronounce Christmas (audio)
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
Christmassy adjective
or Christmasy

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 Catherine hadn't made a public appearance since Christmas. Lauren Frayer, NPR, 23 Mar. 2024 Interest in Kate – who vanished from view at Christmas – persisted this week after reports emerged that staff at the hospital where she was being treated in January may have tried to illegally access her private medical notes. Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 One year, Eric gifted Finn with John Cassavetes: Five Films on The Criterion Collection for his birthday and Christmas. Ilana Frost, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024 The holidays are always in the air at Copper Canyon Christmas, The Christmas Store (111 Jerome Ave., 928-821-6400, www.mooeychristmas.com). Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 22 Mar. 2024 The video is the first time the Princess has appeared on camera since Christmas. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2024 But before that, Masur will lead the orchestra and Milwaukee Symphony Chorus in Bach's Christmas Oratorio (Nov. 22-24), a classical subscription series program shortly before Thanksgiving that will herald the MSO's holiday programs. Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2024 Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Great Country Music and Christmas at the Opry, which all aired on NBC; as well as the Opry’s 5,000th Saturday night broadcast on Oct. 30, 2022, and the 50th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry House, which took place the weekend of Mar. 16. Deborah Evans Price, Billboard, 22 Mar. 2024 Kate, 42, hadn’t been seen publicly since Christmas until video surfaced this week of her with her husband, Prince William, heir to the throne, walking from a farm shop near their Windsor home. arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Christmas.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of Christmas was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near Christmas

Cite this Entry

“Christmas.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Christmas. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Christmas

noun
Christ·​mas ˈkris-məs How to pronounce Christmas (audio)
1
: December 25 celebrated in honor of the birth of Christ
2

More from Merriam-Webster on Christmas

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!