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.
David Wain appears in a recruitment video as leader Noel Tannenbaum.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2026
When asked why he is supporting Talarico, Noel said: "He's a young man, he's an honest man, he's got a vision, he's smart, well-spoken, nice, kind, which is what we need."
From Barron's ● Oct. 23, 2026
Actor Noel Clarke has pleaded not guilty to sexual offences including sexual assault, voyeurism and exposure.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
Noel Hacegaba, CEO of the Port of Long Beach, said the program is one of several his port is working on to keep existing zero-emission trucks on the road.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Walter Noel had inherited two abnormal copies of the hemoglobin B gene.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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