Father Christmas

American

noun

British.

Santa Claus.

Father Christmas British

noun

another name for Santa Claus

"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 Father Christmas

First recorded in 1650–60

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.

In recent weeks, the couple have taken Bertie to see Father Christmas, although Mrs Melly said he was "more interested in all the decorations".

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2025

He recalled "a terrific flash of lightning and almost instantaneous crash of thunder, which woke quite a few people up - and probably frightened Father Christmas".

From BBC • Dec. 14, 2025

A Father Christmas figure is pictured looking pained in the water at the foot of a rock.

From Barron's • Nov. 19, 2025

Father Christmas was announced to guests by an elf - the couple's youngest son.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2025

“When I was a little girl, I used to insist on sleeping under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve! I wanted to catch Father Christmas in the act. Wasn’t that ever so naughty of me?”

From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood

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