Christmas

noun

Christ·​mas ˈkri-sməs 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
North America’s longest running community science project started in 1900: the annual Christmas Bird Count. Sarah Boon june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025 First and foremost were all the family holidays where contrarians attempted to ruin things like the wonder of Christmas by trotting out their anti-Santa Claus views. Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2025 The first movie post New Years 2022, in the wake of a Christmas filled with Avatar: The Way of Water, opened to a great $30.4M hot off a marketing campaign consisting of dancing Megans which became a TikTok sensation. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 June 2025 No one wants to send a work email while tucked into a Tyrolean trundle bed like a Christmas elf. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for Christmas

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

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Cite this Entry

“Christmas.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Christmas. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

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
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