What does "yuletide" mean?
Alternative letter-case form of Yuletide (“Christmas or the Christmas season”).
Yuletide
/ˈjuːlˌtaɪd/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Alternative letter-case form of Yuletide (“Christmas or the Christmas season”).
- Grammar: yuletide is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: christmastide, ceremonial, christmas, christmas season.
- Useful contrasts: nonholiday period, nonliturgical, nonseasonal.
- Usage evidence: Deck the halls with boughs of holly, / Fa la la la la la la la la! / 'Tis the season to be jolly, / Fa la la la la la la la la! / Don we now our gay apparel, / Fa la la la la la la la la! / Troll the ancient yuletide carol, / Fa la la la la la la la la!
How to use "yuletide"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "yuletide" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- 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 "yuletide" 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 "yuletide" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "yuletide" 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 "yuletide" is acting as noun 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 "christmastide" 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.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "yuletide", 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 Alternative letter-case form of Yuletide (“Christmas or the Christmas season”). alt-of, countable, uncountable
- 2 The period around Christmas; the Christmas season, Christmastime; specifically, Christmas itself. countable, dated, uncountable
"Deck the halls with boughs of holly, / Fa la la la la la la la la! / 'Tis the season to be jolly, / Fa la la la la la la la la! / Don we now our gay apparel, / Fa la la la la la la la la! / Troll the ancient yuletide carol, / Fa la la la la la la la la!"
- 3 period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6 wordnet
- 4 The flower Camellia sasanqua, native to Japan and nearby islands. countable, uncountable
- 5 The period of celebration of a pre-Christian festival associated with the (northern) winter solstice, later absorbed into the festival of Christmas (but sometimes recreated by modern neo-pagans). countable, dated, uncountable
"For this is the Yuletide, and the heathen people of the forest are gathered at the thunder-oak of Geismar to worship their god, Thor."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 The period of southern winter in the middle of the year, sometimes celebrated in the colder, snowy regions of Australia with allusions to Christmas, which originated as a marketing gimmick. Australia, countable, regional, uncountable
"Note that the colder winter months (June–Aug) are the busiest season. This period is known as Yuletide—the locals' version of the Christmas period, when most places offer traditional Christmas dinners and roaring log fires."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Deck the halls with boughs of holly, / Fa la la la la la la la la! / 'Tis the season to be jolly, / Fa la la la la la la la la! / Don we now our gay apparel, / Fa la la la la la la la la! / Troll the ancient yuletide carol, / Fa la la la la la la la la!"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "yuletide"?
Common synonyms include: christmastide, ceremonial, christmas, christmas season, christmases, christmassy.
How do you use "yuletide" in a sentence?
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, / Fa la la la la la la la la! / 'Tis the season to be jolly, / Fa la la la la la la la la! / Don we now our gay apparel, / Fa la la la la la la la la! / Troll the ancient yuletide carol, / Fa la la la la la la la la!
How do you pronounce "yuletide"?
Pronounced /ˈjuːlˌtaɪd/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Yule (“Germanic Winter Festival”) + -tide (“period around a festival, season”); compare Swedish juletid.
Etymology 2
Though attested late (c. 1475), probably dates back to Old English *ġēoltīd (literally “Christmas season”). See there for more; equivalent to Yule + -tide.