Christmas

/ˈkɹɪsməs/ adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang

adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: Sprigs of holly and other evergreen plants used as Christmas decorations; also (generally), any Christmas decorations.
  • Grammar: christmas is listed as adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: xmas, yuletide, advent, allhallowmas.
  • Useful contrasts: mundane, nonholiday, nonseasonal.
  • Usage evidence: School has closed for the Christmas holidays.

How to use "christmas"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "christmas" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "christmas" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "christmas" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "christmas" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "christmas" is acting as adj, intj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "xmas" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "christmas", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Sprigs of holly and other evergreen plants used as Christmas decorations; also (generally), any Christmas decorations. British, also, attributive, informal, regional, uncountable

    "[T]he antient Britons employed for the decoration of their houſes, or, more properly ſpeaking, of their bovvers, branches of ever-green, in invitation to the ſpirits: a cuſtom, vvhich, hovvever the motive may be aboliſhed, is retained to this inſtant. That kind of verdure vvhich is uſed to deck the vvindovvs, and old halls, vve novv, by metonymy, call Chriſtmas."

  2. 2
    a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland wordnet
  3. 3
    period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6 wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To decorate (a place) with Christmas (“sprigs of holly and other evergreen plants used as Christmas decorations, or any Christmas decorations”). US, also, attributive, informal, transitive

    ""Then look," said a gardener to me, "what's spent on a Christmasing the churches! Why, now, properly to Christmas St. Paul's, I say properly, mind, would take 50l. worth at least; aye, more, when I think of it, nearer 100l. I hope there'll be no 'No Popery' nonsense against Christmasing this year. I'm always sorry when anything of that kind's afloat, because it's frequently a hindrance to business.""

  2. 2
    To bring (someone) Christmas cheer. US, also, attributive, obsolete, rare, transitive

    "Her labours feast imperial Night with sports, / Where loves are Christmass'd, with all pleasure's sorts; […]"

  3. 3
    To celebrate Christmas. US, also, attributive, intransitive

    "The 2016 campaign via TBWA Sydney asks the question, ‘How do Australians Christmas?’ with a film to be launched today featuring global superstar and style icon, Cate Blanchett."

  4. 4
    To spend Christmas or the Christmas season in some place. US, also, attributive, intransitive

    "I've Christmased since those palmy days / In many a varied spot, / And suffered many a weary phase / Of Christmas cold and hot."

  5. 5
    To subject to Christmas celebrations. US, also, attributive, colloquial

    "“[…] But there’s only so much joyful, greedy delight you can see in a young child’s eyes before you want to go screaming out for the nearest bar.” He tossed his handstitched, kidskin gloves onto the table top. “I’m about Christmassed-out, if you want to know.”"

Adjective
  1. 1
    Red and green in color. US, also, attributive, not-comparable
  2. 2
    Of a dish: having a sauce made with red (ripe) and green (unripe) chili peppers. US, also, attributive, not-comparable
Intj
  1. 1
    An expression of annoyance or surprise: Christ, Jesus Christ, Jiminy Cricket, Jiminy Crickets. US, also, attributive, euphemistic

    ""Christmas! I didn't know it," said Harvey, turning round. "I'll give you a dollar for it when I—get my wages. Say, I'll give you two dollars.""

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A festival or holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ and incorporating various Christian, pre-Christian, pagan, and secular customs, which in Western Christianity is celebrated on December 25 (Christmas Day) in most places. also, attributive, countable, uncountable

    "Do you celebrate Christmas?"

  2. 2
    Ellipsis of Christmas season (“the period of time before and after Christmas Day, during which people prepare for and celebrate Christmas”); Christmastime. abbreviation, also, alt-of, attributive, countable, ellipsis, often, uncountable

    "The last three Christmases have been good for retailers."

  3. 3
    A number of places in the United States:; An uninhabited mining community in Gila County, Arizona. also, attributive, countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Orange County, Florida. also, attributive, countable, uncountable
  5. 5
    A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Au Train Township, Alger County, Michigan. also, attributive, countable, uncountable
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Bolivar County, Mississippi. also, attributive, countable, uncountable
  2. 7
    A surname. also, attributive, countable, uncountable

Synonyms

All synonyms
xmasyuletideadventallhallowmasallhallowsallhallowtide

Example

"School has closed for the Christmas holidays."

Common questions

What does "christmas" mean?

Sprigs of holly and other evergreen plants used as Christmas decorations; also (generally), any Christmas decorations.

What is a synonym for "christmas"?

Common synonyms include: xmas, yuletide, advent, allhallowmas, allhallows, allhallowtide.

How do you use "christmas" in a sentence?

School has closed for the Christmas holidays.

How do you pronounce "christmas"?

Pronounced /ˈkɹɪsməs/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

The proper noun is derived from Middle English Cristemasse, Criste-mas (“Christmas Day; season of Christmas; Christmas festivities”) [and other forms], from Old English Cristes mæsse (“Christmas”, literally “Christ’s mass”), from Crist (“Christ”) + -es (possessive marker) + mæsse (“a mass (celebration of the Eucharist)”). The English word is analysable as Christ + -mas (suffix denoting a holiday or sacred day). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Kristmisse (“Christmas”), West Frisian Krystmis (“Christmas”), Dutch Kerstmis (“Christmas”), German Low German Karstmis (“Christmas”). The noun, adjective, and verb are derived from the proper noun. Adjective etymology 1 sense 1 (“red and green in color”) refers to these colors being traditionally associated with Christmas.

Etymology 2

Short for Jiminy Christmas, probably a variant of Jiminy Cricket or Jiminy Crickets, a euphemism for Jesus Christ.

More for "christmas"

Synonyms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsBrowse writing guidesExplore topic clusters