Hanukkah

noun

Ha·​nuk·​kah ˈhä-nə-kə  ˈḵä- 

variants or less commonly Chanukah or Hanukah

: an 8-day Jewish holiday beginning on the 25th of Kislev and commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after its defilement by Antiochus of Syria

Examples of Hanukkah in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Though her family celebrates Hanukkah, Leah has longed to experience a traditional Christmas. —EW.com, 18 Oct. 2024

The hybrid name is a combination of both Christmas and Hanukkah and was created as a way to enjoy the best of both holidays. —Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024

At a menorah lighting ceremony in December in downtown Detroit for Hanukkah, family members of some of the hostages visited to share their stories with metro Detroiters. —Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 6 Oct. 2024

Here are five recommendations, including an engaging Hanukkah anthology that scrambles the holiday’s traditions into eight so-bad-they’re-good nights. —Defne Karabatur, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew ḥănukkāh dedication

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Hanukkah

noun

Ha·​nuk·​kah

variants also Chanukah or Hanukah

ˈḵän-ə-kə,

ˈhän-

: an eight-day Jewish holiday celebrated in November or December in honor of the cleansing and second dedication of the Temple after the Syrians were driven out of Jerusalem in 165 b.c.