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

Other days are more complicated, requiring parents to either get crafty or buy items that their child may wear only once: an ugly Christmas sweater for holiday spirit week, plastic accessories for Sunglasses Day or Mustache Day. —Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 8 May 2025

For the Checkers and their fans, Christmas might have been delayed, but it hasn’t been canceled. —Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2025

Gollum will officially return to the big screen for Christmas 2027. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 8 May 2025

Other festivals during the 40th season include Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration (June 14-Aug. 3), Harvest Festival (Sept. 12-Oct. 27) and Smoky Mountain Christmas (Nov. 1-Jan. 4). —Devarrick Turner, USA Today, 8 May 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