Santa Claus

American  

[san-tuh klawz] / ˈsæn tə ˌklɔz /

Or Santa Klaus

noun

1. a benevolent figure of legend, associated with Saint Nicholas, supposed to bring gifts to children on Christmas Eve.

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Santa Claus British  

/ ˈsæntə ˌklɔːz /

noun

1. Often shortened to: Santa.  Also called: Father Christmas.  the legendary patron saint of children, commonly identified with Saint Nicholas, who brings presents to children on Christmas Eve or, in some European countries, on Saint Nicholas' Day

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Etymology

Origin of Santa Claus

1765–75, from Dutch Sinterklaas, equivalent to sint saint + heer (Myn)heer ( def. ) + Klaas, short for Niklaas Nicholas ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Santa Claus

During a virtual holiday party, Brody compared Done’s prescriptions for controlled medications to Santa Claus handing out candy, a witness testified.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

The "spooky" note, dated to 1964, said the coins were winnings from a horse called Santa Claus that ran that year.

From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026

At Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, a 300-acre, family-owned theme park in Santa Claus, Ind., the most-coveted openings for younger teens filled quickly after the application process began at the start of the year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 24, 2026

Hirsch’s father, Yale Hirsch, founder of the Stock Trader’s Almanac, popularized the Santa Claus rally indicator back in the early 1970s.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 4, 2026

After that, for the first time in his life, Billy Ray started wondering about the Lord, whom he’d previously always considered a kind of stern Santa Claus.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols