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.
The government’s case against Boise, which was revealed in court filings earlier this month, stems from the Justice Department’s prosecution of Horizon’s owners, Noel and Kelsy Quintana.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
Noel Quintana pleaded guilty to a smuggling charge as well.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
They documented frenzied communications between Noel Quintana and overseas contacts once investigators had raided their warehouse.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026
US actress Christine Baranski has said it will be a "dream come true" to make her West End debut later this year, in a new production of Noel Coward's comedy Hay Fever.
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026
Noel was from the Caribbean, of West African descent, and had suffered several such episodes over the prior years.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
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.
