Xmas

noun

ˈkris-məs How to pronounce Xmas (audio)
also
ˈeks-məs How to pronounce Xmas (audio)
plural Xmases
Synonyms of Xmasnext
informal
: christmas
I don't expect to get away for Xmas.— Alexander Woollcott
Lester was carrying boxes marked Xmas from the corner of the garage to the truck.— Gloria Naylor
—now used chiefly for brevity in advertisements, headlines, etc.

Examples of Xmas in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Late last year, to signal the return of Davies and commemorate its 60th anniversary, three specials aired featuring fan favorites David Tennant and Catherine Tate before Gatwa was introduced in a third Xmas special – The Church on Ruby Road, which divided critics. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Dec. 2024 Bong Candle’s Xmas Treez Bong Candle’s limited holiday time items are sure to bring on the giggles due to their names, never mind their effects. — Joan Oleck, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

X (symbol for Christ, from the Greek letter chi (X), initial of Christos Christ) + -mas (in Christmas)

First Known Use

1721, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Xmas was in 1721

Browse Nearby Words

x-man
Xmas
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Cite this Entry

“Xmas.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Xmas. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

Etymology

from X, a symbol for Jesus Christ, and -mas, from Christmas; the X is from the Greek letter X "chi," the first letter in the Greek word Christos "Christ"

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