Santa Claus

noun

San·​ta Claus ˈsan-tə-ˌklȯz 

 also  ˈsan-tē-

variants or Santa

ˈsan-tə 

: a plump, white-bearded, red-suited, and jolly old man in modern folklore who delivers presents to children at Christmastime

There might be a few weeks left until Christmas, but Santa Claus and his merry elves landed early in Bakersfield because several boys and girls on the nice list caught their attention.

—Ema Sasic

… we had dashed downstairs to the living room to see what Santa had brought and piled up, in great mounds of splendidly wrapped packages, under the Christmas tree—whose angel's halo brushed the ceiling.

—Anthony Bailey

Examples of Santa Claus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Photo by Mark Johanson Modern molas sold in Panama City feature everything from Santa Claus to Mickey Mouse. —Mark Johanson, AFAR Media, 22 Apr. 2025

Silent Night, Deadly Night tells the story of a child who is traumatized after seeing his parents killed by a man dressed as Santa Claus. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2025

The school’s home beach is Santa Claus Lane, which offers a sand bottom break with idyllic learning waves year round. —Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 15 Apr. 2025

Ron Howard didn't sugarcoat things when daughter Bryce Dallas Howard asked for the truth about Santa Claus. —Benjamin Vanhoose, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

modification of Dutch Sinterklaas, alteration of Sint Nikolaas Saint Nicholas

First Known Use

1773, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Santa Claus

• chickasaws
• chippewas
• diapause
• menelaus
• menopause
• tropopause
• ahs
• baas
• cause
• clause
• claws
• coz