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. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Santa Claus

"The publicity that went on about Santa Claus getting arrested at Christmastime was just brilliant."

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

The Santa Claus rally that does enjoy statistical significance covers the period from Christmas through the second day of January.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 26, 2026

He lived in Fillmore, Utah, with his wife and “loved and adored” playing Santa Claus, according to his obituary.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

For longtime residents, the neighborhood itself is about as real as Santa Claus, or the tooth fairy—“East Williamsburg” could’ve just as easily been “South Greenpoint” or “West Bushwick” or “Tatooine” or “Six Flags.”

From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026

The vending machine in the laundromat hasn't worked for months, so I walk across the street to the gas station—the one that: leaves its giant inflated Santa Claus up year-round—to get a bottle of juice.

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi

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