Noel

American  

[noh-el, noh-uhl, nohl] / noʊˈɛl, ˈnoʊ əl, noʊl /

noun

1. Christmas.

2. (lowercase) a Christmas song or carol.

3. a male given name.

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Noel British  

/ nəʊˈɛl /

noun

1. (esp in carols) another word for Christmas

2. rare (often not capital) a Christmas carol

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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”; natal

Example Sentences

Outside the court, Noel McLaughlin - Young's husband - said the inquest mattered greatly.

From BBC

On the third-quarter earnings call in October, Noel said the company’s Medicare Advantage enrollment would contract this year as it significantly adjusted benefits and exited some markets, part of the strategy to improve margins.

From Barron's

UnitedHealthcare CEO Tim Noel said in an earnings call last week that the proposed payment freeze would result in “very meaningful benefit reductions.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Chief Executive Noel Wallace said he was pleased with the company’s growth last year, which he said came despite sluggish category growth in many markets.

From The Wall Street Journal

Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan and former Wolves player Don Goodman were also among the mourners at the service, along with sports commentator Bryn Law.

From BBC