Hanukkah

noun

Ha·​nuk·​kah ˈhä-nə-kə How to pronounce Hanukkah (audio) ˈḵä- How to pronounce Hanukkah (audio)
variants or less commonly Chanukah or Hanukah
: an 8-day Jewish holiday beginning on the 25th of Kislev and commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after its defilement by Antiochus of Syria

Examples of Hanukkah in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Several years ago, my son received an iPad as a Hanukkah gift from his grandparents. — Lawrence D. Sprung, Founder and Wealth Advisor At Mitlin Financial, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2025 The pair — who started dating in June 2023 — celebrated the first night of Hanukkah together last year. — Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025 The holiday is the No. 1 annual occasion for florists and floral purchases, second only to Christmas and Hanukkah in dollars spent, according to the Society of American Florists. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2025 The menorah itself shouldn’t light ablaze, which is why Target recalled 4,400 Spritz Taper Resin Dino Hanukkah Menorahs on Thursday. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Hanukkah

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew ḥănukkāh dedication

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Hanukkah was in 1843

Rhymes for Hanukkah

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Hanukkah
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“Hanukkah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hanukkah. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

Hanukkah

noun
Ha·​nuk·​kah
variants also Chanukah or Hanukah
ˈḵän-ə-kə,
ˈhän-
: an eight-day Jewish holiday celebrated in November or December in honor of the cleansing and second dedication of the Temple after the Syrians were driven out of Jerusalem in 165 b.c.

More from Merriam-Webster on Hanukkah

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Hanukkah

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