# Santa

/ˈsænə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/santa
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. Santa Claus

noun · CEFR A1 · Informal

a short name for Santa Claus, the person who brings gifts at Christmas.

For teachers: a familiar ellipsis of Santa Claus, referring to the legendary figure associated with Christmas gift-giving.

- The children left some cookies and milk on the table for Santa.
- Belief in Santa remains a cornerstone of childhood Christmas traditions in many Western cultures, often maintained by parents through elaborate rituals.

### 2. a person dressed as Santa

noun · CEFR A2 · Informal

a person who is dressed in a red suit and white beard to look like Santa.

For teachers: an individual wearing a Santa Claus costume, typically for seasonal employment or festive entertainment.

- There was a Santa at the shopping mall taking photos with families.
- The department store hired a professional Santa to greet customers and distribute small trinkets to children during the holiday rush.

## Examples

- The children left some cookies and milk for Santa.
- Every December, the local mall hires a professional actor to dress as Santa and take photos with families.
- The modern visual identity of Santa was solidified through mid-century advertising, though the character's roots trace back to much older European traditions of Saint Nicholas.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.