Synonyms

Santa Claus

American

[san-tuh klawz] / ˈsæn tə ˌklɔz /

Or Santa Klaus

noun

a benevolent figure of legend, associated with Saint Nicholas, supposed to bring gifts to children on Christmas Eve.

Santa Claus British

/ ˈsæntə ˌklɔːz /

noun

Often shortened to: Santa. Also called: Father Christmas. the legendary patron saint of children, commonly identified with Saint Nicholas, who brings presents to children on Christmas Eve or, in some European countries, on Saint Nicholas' Day

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Santa Claus

1765–75, from Dutch Sinterklaas, equivalent to sint saint + heer (Myn)heer ( def. ) + Klaas, short for Niklaas Nicholas ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Even as a kid, I couldn’t relate to people’s excitement over Christmas spirit or Santa Claus.

From Los Angeles Times

But right then, I wouldn’t have enjoyed hearing Santa Claus laugh.

From Literature

The vocal music is written for an excellent quartet of singers who play a bevy of Sue-adjacent characters and observers—her ex-husband, Santa Claus, a newscaster, a trio of algorithms and Death, among others.

From The Wall Street Journal

“That man with the beard. He…” I look back at the TV again, just to be sure, but how many men in Chicago look like Santa Claus with orange hair?

From Literature

Recently, she found a screenshot online where a user told Claude she was 5 years old and asked whether Santa Claus existed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023