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

Peter Vincent saved $1,800 from chores, Christmas and birthday gifts and decided to donate it to Children’s Mercy. —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2025

Despite missing over a month after suffering a hand injury at Christmas that required surgery, the Ridgewood, New Jersey native is dominating once again. —Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025

Still, the White House cuts and hiring freezes severely disrupted a seasonal hiring and training cadence for park rangers that usually begins around Christmas, Jones said. —Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2025

Volume 1 will arrive on Nov. 26, Volume 2 on Christmas, and the finale on New Year's Eve. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 1 June 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