Noel
Americannoun
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(esp in carols) another word for Christmas
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rare (often not capital) a Christmas carol
Usage
What does Noel mean? Noel is another word for Christmas, the Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. Most Christians celebrate the holiday on December 25, but it is celebrated on January 7 in the Orthodox Church due to the use of a different calendar. Christmas is also widely observed in secular (nonreligious) ways. Popular activities include the decoration of a Christmas tree and the exchange of gifts. However, the word Noel is often used in a religious context. It’s possible for people to wish each other a Happy Noel, but the word is perhaps most commonly seen written on things like Christmas cards and decorations. The word can also be used to refer to a Christmas carol or song (in which case it is not capitalized), but is no longer commonly used this way. Fittingly, most people know the word from the popular Christmas carol “The First Noel.”Example: We wish you and your family a joyous Noel!
Etymology
Origin of Noel
First recorded in 1805–15; from French Nöel, ultimately from Latin nātālis (diēs) “birthday”; see natal
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.
Noel Grigsby played for Garrett, went on to San José State and has been an assistant coach since 2014.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026
Noel Edward Hord, the fourth of five children, was born on July 10, 1946, and grew up in a church parsonage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
She concentrated on her theatre work, which Keith had continued to nurture alongside TV - particularly comedy classics from the likes of Noel Coward and Oscar Wilde.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
At the same meeting, Noel Gould of the Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Council said the council is supporting the project after working closely with the developers to reach compromises.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2026
Right next door, in lane two, Ran Laurie, Noel Duckworth, and the rest of the British crew did the same.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
